Erectile dysfunction associated with lower work productivity in men: Study

A recent study claims erectile dysfunction (ED) is closely linked with loss of work productivity and lower health-related quality of life in more than 52,000 men from eight countries.

In the study published in the journal of International Journal of Clinical Practice, men aged 40 to 70 years in Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the overall ED prevalence was 49.7 per cent, with Italy reporting the highest rate (54.7 per cent).

Men with ED reported significantly higher rates of staying home from work (7.1 per cent versus 3.2 per cent), working while sick (22.5 per cent versus 10.1 per cent), work productivity impairment (24.8 per cent versus 11.2 per cent), and activity impairment (28.6 per cent versus 14.5 per cent) than men without ED. They also had lower measures of health-related quality of life.

"This study shows that ED remains a prevalent concern, one that impacts work productivity and absenteeism," said the co-author of the study, Wing Yu Tang.

"Stemming from eight countries, the global coverage of the data also suggests that this issue is pervasive across geographies," added the senior author of the study, Tarek Hassan.