Erectile Dysfunctions
Conditions
Keywords
Traditional Medicine Pattern, Erectile Dysfunctions, IIEF-5
Brief summary
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common condition that significantly affects quality of life, psychological well-being, and interpersonal relationships. In Traditional Medicine, ED is classified into different syndrome patterns, which are essential for guiding individualized treatment; however, evidence on their distribution and associated factors in Vietnam remains limited. This cross-sectional study aims to determine the distribution of Traditional Medicine syndrome patterns in patients with ED and to evaluate their associations with demographic characteristics, clinical features, psychological status, and lifestyle factors, thereby providing evidence to support improved diagnosis and integrative treatment approaches.
Detailed description
This is a cross-sectional observational study designed to characterize the distribution of Traditional Medicine (TM) syndrome patterns among adult male patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) and to explore their associations with demographic, clinical, psychological, anthropometric, and lifestyle characteristics. The study will be conducted at Binh Dan Hospital. Male patients aged 18 years or older who meet the study criteria for ED will be recruited during the study period. Erectile function will be assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), a validated instrument used to identify and classify the severity of ED. Clinical information will be collected using a standardized data collection form. TM syndrome patterns will be assessed according to predefined Traditional Medicine diagnostic criteria by appropriately trained clinicians. The assessment will be used to classify participants into the corresponding TM syndrome patterns. Demographic and clinical data will include age, educational level, age at first diagnosis of ED, ED severity, and relevant characteristics of erectile function. Anthropometric assessment will include body mass index (BMI), calculated from measured body weight and height. Information on relevant comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia, will also be recorded. Psychological status will be assessed using the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales-21 (DASS-21), with the relevant subscale(s) used to characterize psychological symptoms. Lifestyle information will include smoking and alcohol consumption. All study variables will be collected at the time of enrollment, consistent with the cross-sectional design. The analysis will first describe the distribution of TM syndrome patterns among participants with ED. Subsequently, the associations between TM syndrome patterns and selected demographic, clinical, psychological, anthropometric, comorbidity, and lifestyle characteristics will be examined. These analyses will include age, age at first diagnosis of ED, BMI, educational level, ED severity and clinical characteristics, psychological status, smoking, alcohol consumption, and selected comorbidities. The study is observational and cross-sectional; therefore, the analyses are intended to identify distributions and statistical associations rather than establish temporal or causal relationships.
Interventions
None listed
Sponsors
University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City
Study design
Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Individuals aged 18 years or older who were diagnosed with erectile dysfunction by a clinical physician at Binh Dan Hospital between January 2026 and August 2026. * Willing to participate in the study and provide informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
* Unable to understand the questionnaire. * Unable to complete all the study questions. * Patients who do not wish to continue participating in the study.
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Traditional medicine pattern identification | At the time of enrollment in the study | — |
| Severity of erectile dysfunction according to the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score | At the time of enrollment in the study | Erectile dysfunction severity will be assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5), a 5-item validated questionnaire assessing erectile function. The total score ranges from 5 to 25 points. Higher scores indicate better erectile function and less severe erectile dysfunction. |
| Age, age at first diagnosis, BMI, educational level, severity of erectile dysfunction, clinical characteristics of penile erection in patients with erectile dysfunction, levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors | At the time of enrollment in the study | Age: Years Age at first diagnosis of ED: Years Body Mass Index (BMI): kg/m², calculated as weight (kg)/height (m)² Educational level: Categorical Severity of ED: IIEF-5 score, 5-25; higher scores indicate better erectile function Clinical characteristics of penile erection: Categorical Depression: DASS-21 depression subscale, 0-42; higher scores indicate greater severity Anxiety: DASS-21 anxiety subscale, 0-42; higher scores indicate greater severity Stress: DASS-21 stress subscale, 0-42; higher scores indicate greater severity Comorbidities: Categorical (hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia) Smoking: Categorical Alcohol consumption: Categorical |
| The associations between traditional medicine syndrome patterns and demographic, clinical, and lifestyle characteristics | At the time of enrollment in the study | The associations between traditional medicine syndrome patterns and demographic, clinical, and lifestyle characteristics, including age, age at first diagnosis, body mass index (BMI), educational level, severity and clinical characteristics of erectile dysfunction, psychological status (stress), and lifestyle factors (smoking and alcohol consumption). |
Countries
Vietnam
Contacts
CONTACTMinh Man Bui Pham Doctor of Phylosophy
CONTACTGiang Binh Pham Le Medical doctor
Outcome results
None listed