Correlation between prevalence of erectile dysfunction and length of riding in hours/week among bicycle taxi riders in Bungoma ,Kenya

Abstract

Background: Organic erectile dysfunction is common in elderly men but is not prevalent in men below 40 years of age (5). However, in addition to other known causes such as smoking, alcohol intake and diabetes mellitus, recent research has implicated bicycle riding as the cause of erectile dysfunction in much younger men (10). Even stationary bikes can cause trauma to the blood supply to the penis, resulting in erectile dysfunction (22).

Objective: To evaluate the effects of long hours of bicycle riding/week on erectile function among bicycle taxi (boda boda) riders in Bungoma town.

Design: A Cross-sectional survey.

Setting: Bungoma town, part of western Kenya, bordering Uganda to the west.There are believed to be 1300 bicycle taxi riders in Bungoma.

Subjects: Bicycle taxi riders aged below 40 years and married.

Results: A total of 115 participants were enrolled in this study. The overall prevalence of erectile dysfunction among bicycle taxi riders was 35.9%. The period of riding in months was not significantly associated with erectile dysfunction among bicycle taxi riders but the length of riding in hours per week was significantly associated with erectile dysfunction p< 0.01. The risk of erectile dysfunction increased as the hours of riding per week increased. None of those who rode for more than 60 hours per week had a normal erectile function.

Conclusion. Longer hours of bicycle riding per week, was associated with higher rates of erectile dysfunction among Boda boda taxi riders.