The erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence is a sexual impairment - caused by physiological or psychological factors - that impedes men to have or maintain erection.

A new study assessing the prevalence of the erectile dysfunction (ED) amongst racial groups in United States found it highly prevalent across white, black and Hispanic groups in the United States.

This is the first plausible research of its type, made on an adequately-sized, nationally representative probability sample, depicting how health and lifestyle bias the odds of having ED, all this linked to race and ethnicity.

Amongst white men, those over 70 as well as diabetes patients were the most vulnerable group.

On black men, severe lower urinary tract symptoms were connected to impotence.

In the Hispanic group, the most affected were those over 60, as well as those suffering from moderate lower urinary tract symptoms, hypertension and/or depression.

Exercising and good partner relationships decreased the risk in black men, and for Hispanic men high school or higher education were beneficial. "Consistent with numerous other studies, age has again been shown to be a very important risk factor for ED," says Ed Laumann, lead author of the study.

"We have also learned from this study that different lifestyle and health conditions appear to play significantly different roles in different racial/ethnic groups. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanisms that account for these differences."
"The specific risk factors for sexual dysfunction in minority men have not been previously explored," according to Ray Rosen, co-author of the study.

"This study shows the importance of psychosocial influences in ED, particularly the effects of depression and a poor partner relationship in minority men. Given the prevalence of physical risk factors (diabetes, hypertension) also in minority men, these results should alert clinicians to the particular relevance of sexual function in minority men to overall health and well-being."

"This is important new research in sexual medicine," observed Irwin Goldstein, Editor-in-Chief of The Journal of Sexual Medicine.

"The United States is made up of numerous racial and ethnic populations. Previous epidemiologic studies have examined the prevalence of erectile dysfunction in populations largely of Caucasian men. Translation of the sexual medicine findings of one population group to another can only really be done by directly studying the specific ethnic/racial group."