Sexual dysfunction in patients undergoing non-surgical management of benign prostatic enlargement at the Kenyatta national hospital

Abstract

Background: Sexual dysfunction is a major complaint of patients with benign prostatic enlargement. It may result from drugs used for treatment of benign prostatic enlargement, age and lower urinary tract symptoms.
Study Objective: To determine the prevalence and associated factors of sexual dysfunction (SD) amongst patients undergoing treatment for benign prostatic enlargement (BPE) at the Kenyatta national hospital (KNH).
Study design: Cross sectional study.
Study setting: KNH urology clinics.
Subjects: 80 patients undergoing treatment for benign prostatic enlargement.
Interventions: Assessment of erectile dysfunction, lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) was done using the international index of erectile function score (IIEF) tool) and international prostatic symptom score (IPSS) respectively. Data collection was done using a pretested structured questionnaire.
Study results: The mean age of patients was 68 yrs. Prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) was 81%.47.7% had severe ED, and 6.2% had moderate ED, 24.5 % had mild to moderate ED while 21.5 % had mild ED. 61% of patients had moderate lower urinary tract symptoms, while, 35 % had severe lower urinary tract symptoms. Only 4 % had mild symptoms.90% of the patients were on medication while the remaining 10% were not or had not been started on medication for BPH. 3% of the study population had diabetes mellitus, 38% had hypertension, while 13% had both diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction in BPE is associated with age, lower urinary tract symptoms, diabetes mellitus, hypertension and medication used in BPE while Prostate size and PSA levels were not associated.