The impact of physical health and socioeconomic factors on sexual activity in middle-aged and elderly Taiwanese men

Figures & data

Table I.  Baseline characteristics of subjects (n = 744).

	n(%)	Mean ± SD	Range
Age (year)		57.4 ± 6.6	43–87
40–49	113 (15.2)
50–59	430 (57.8)
60–69	158 (21.2)
≥70	43 (5.8)
BMI		24.6 ± 2.8	17.1–41.1
Normal weight (BMI < 24)	330 (44.3)
Overweight (24 < BMI ≤ 27)	272 (36.6)
Obesity (BMI > 27)	142 (19.1)
Marital and relationship status
With partner	712 (95.7)
Without partner	32 (4.3)
Educational status
At least some college	428 (57.5)
Secondary/high school	277 (37.2)
Primary school or less	39 (5.3)
Current employed	598 (80.4)
Erectile dysfunction	404 (54.3)
Decreased sexual desire	389 (52.3)
Sexual inactivity	100 (13.4)
Comorbidities
Diabetes mellitus	76 (10.2)
Hypertension	201 (27.0)
Hyperlipidaemia	104 (14.0)
Cardiovascular disease	68 (9.1)
Stroke	12 (1.6)
Spinal cord injury	25 (3.4)
LUTS	349 (46.9)
Other chronic diseases	33 (4.4)
No. comorbidities		1.12 ± 1.03	0–6
Stratification of comorbidities
None	226 (30.4)
One	301 (40.5)
Two or greater	217 (29.2)
Current smoking	110 (14.8)
Current alcohol drinking	101 (13.6)

LUTS, lower urinary tract symptoms; BMI, body mass index.

Table II.  The prevalence of sexual dysfunction and sexual inactivity in different age groups.

Age (year)	Patient no.	Erectile dysfunction	Decreased sexual desire	Sexual inactivity
40–49	113	48 (42.5)	57 (50.4)	8 (7.1)
50–59	430	206 (47.9)	207 (48.1)	32 (7.4)
60–69	158	118 (74.7)	90 (57.0)	38 (24.1)
≥70	43	32 (74.4)	35 (81.4)	22 (51.2)
Total	744	404 (54.3)	389 (52.3)	100 (13.4)

Table III.  The comparison of clinical characteristics between the participants with and without sexual activity.

	Sexually inactive (n = 100)	Sexual active (n = 644)	p
Age (year)	63.4 ± 9.4	56.4 ± 5.5	<0.001
40–49	8 (8.0)	105 (16.3)	<0.001
50–59	32 (32.0)	398 (61.8)
60–69	38 (38.0)	120 (18.6)
≥70	22 (22.0)	21 (3.3)
BMI	24.1 ± 3.4	24.7 ± 2.7	0.09
Normal weight (BMI < 24)	52 (52.0)	278 (43.1)	0.193
Overweight (24 < BMI ≤ 27)	34 (34.0)	238 (37.0)
Obesity (BMI > 27)	14 (14.0)	123 (19.9)
Marital and relationship status
With partner	86 (86.0)	626 (97.2)	<0.001
Without partner	14 (14.0)	18 (2.8)
Educational status
At least some college	40 (40.0)	388 (60.2)	<0.001
Secondary/high school	40 (40.0)	237 (36.8)
Primary school or less	20 (20.0)	19 (3.0)
Current employed	53 (53.0)	545 (84.6)	<0.001
Erectile dysfunction	79 (79.0)	325 (50.5)	<0.001
Decreased sexual desire	67 (67.0)	322 (50.0)	0.002
Comorbidity
Diabetes mellitus	30 (30.0)	46 (7.1)	<0.001
Hypertension	43 (43.0)	158 (24.5)	<0.001
Hyperlipidaemia	12 (12.0)	92 (14.3)	0.54
Cardiovascular disease	21 (21.0)	47 (7.3)	<0.001
Stroke	8 (8.0)	4 (0.6)	<0.001
Spinal cord injury	1 (1.0)	24 (3.7)	0.159
LUTS	57 (57.0)	292 (45.3)	0.03
Other chronic diseases	5 (5.0)	28 (4.3)	0.768
No. comorbidities	1.72 ± 1.19	1.03 ± 0.98	<0.001
Stratification of comorbidities			<0.001
None	14 (14.0)	212 (32.9)
One	33 (33.0)	268 (41.6)
Two or greater	53 (53.0)	164 (25.5)
Current smoking	20 (20.0)	90 (14.0)	0.114
Current alcohol drinking	12 (12.6)	86 (13.7)	0.857

LUTS, lower urinary tract symptoms; BMI, body mass index.

Table IV.  The predictive factors for sexual inactivity in multiple logistic regression analysis.

	OR	95% CI	p
Age groups (year)
40–49	Ref
50–59	0.88	0.38–2.03	0.758
60–69	2.03	0.82–4.93	0.12
≥70	4.39	1.48–13.0	0.008
p for trend	0.001
Educational status
At least some college	Ref
Secondary/high school	1.42	0.85–2.38	0.183
Primary school or less	6.54	2.85–15.00	<0.001
p for trend	<0.001
Loss of a partner	6.83	2.91–16.04	<0.001
Current employed	0.6	0.34–1.06	0.077
Decreased sexual desire	1.07	0.61–1.88	0.82
Erectile dysfunction	2.56	1.36–4.83	0.004
Stratification of comorbidities
None	Ref
One	1.3	0.65–2.60	0.47
Two or greater	2.12	1.06–4.24	0.033
p for trend	0.022

OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval; BMI, body mass index.