-- National Survey Shows Misconceptions Still Prevalent: Nearly One
in Three Believe Tight Underwear Can Lead to Erectile Dysfunction
NEW YORK, Sept. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- According to a recent
survey of more than 4,000 men aged 40 - 60 living in the United
States, men are surprisingly well informed about their health.
While often given less credit than they deserve, men proved they
are generally knowledgeable about things such as their health,
including their current blood pressure and cholesterol level.
Further, men shattered the myth that they refuse to enter a
doctor's office: the survey found that of all respondents, 66
percent see a doctor once or more than once a year. These facts are
just some of the findings of a new national survey conducted on
behalf of Best Life magazine and Lilly ICOS LLC
(NYSE:LLYNYSE:andNYSE:Nasdaq:NYSE:ICOS), the maker of Cialis(R)
(tadalafil), in association with Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh of Columbia
University Medical Center and New York Presbyterian
Hospital/Columbia, by Harris Interactive(R). The survey was
designed to gauge the attitudes, fears, and overall health
knowledge of men in the United States. The survey, funded by Lilly
ICOS, found that despite their relatively solid knowledge of
general health, many men are still lacking important information
about their sexual health. This may put their health at risk. "The
popular belief is that men can rattle off sports scores and cite
their stock portfolios, but they know very little about their
health, so I was encouraged to learn that of all the men surveyed,
71 percent know their blood pressure numbers, and 66 percent know
that the PSA is a test for prostate cancer," said Jeff Csatari,
executive editor of Best Life magazine. While 73 percent of all men
surveyed indicated that they are either "very comfortable" or
"extremely comfortable" discussing important health issues with
their physician, there are still some men that are hesitant to
consult their doctor if they experience erectile problems.
Twenty-five percent of all respondents are only "somewhat" or "not
at all likely" to talk to their doctor about problems they may have
with erectile function. Why? Of those men who are hesitant to see
their doctor to discuss erectile dysfunction (ED), some incorrectly
believe that ED "is just a sign of aging" (32 percent) or are
simply too embarrassed (31 percent) to talk about it. What men
should know is that ED can be caused by a number of conditions
including diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular
disease, any one of which merits medical attention. "I'm still
amazed at what some men don't do -- specifically, go to their
doctors when they experience symptoms that require attention. They
still seem to be either embarrassed by certain health issues, or
they think they're invincible," said Csatari. Let's Talk About Sex
Experts agree that 80 - 90 percent of ED cases are related to a
physical or medical condition, like diabetes, cardiovascular
diseases, and prostate cancer treatment, while 10 - 20 percent of
cases are due to psychological causes(1,2). Most men surveyed not
only knew the definition of ED but also correctly identified its
causes. However, there are some myths about erectile dysfunction
that many respondents believe to be facts. Of all those surveyed,
some believe that ED is caused by unsafe sexual behavior (38
percent), wearing tight underwear (29 percent), or even sleeping on
one's stomach (4 percent). Men can rest easy, because these factors
do not cause ED. "Based on what we know, some men wait an
inordinate amount of time before they consult a doctor after
experiencing ED. Generally men will wait three or four years before
they seek medical help because they are just too embarrassed to
talk about erectile problems," says Ridwan Shabsigh, M.D.,
associate professor of Urology at Columbia University Medical
Center and the director of The New York Center for Human Sexuality
at the New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia. "What men may not
realize is that often ED hints at potentially life-threatening
conditions -- erectile function can be viewed as an outward
indicator of a man's overall health." Isn't it a Shame? The
majority of those surveyed place a high priority on their ability
to engage in sex. For example, comparing the loss of sexual ability
to other losses, the survey found that if given the option, instead
of losing the ability to have sex, men are significantly more
likely to choose losing a full head of hair (87 percent vs. 13
percent of all respondents), having to declare bankruptcy (69
percent vs. 31 percent of all respondents), or losing their job (61
percent vs. 39 percent of all respondents). Some men remain
reluctant to see their doctor, despite the availability of
effective oral ED treatments and media attention to these
treatments. "We've heard from thousands of men about the impact ED
has on their relationships, and how much they regret the loss of
intimacy due to their condition," said Leonard Blum, senior vice
president, sales and marketing, ICOS Corporation. "We hope this
survey will remind men of the close link between ED and their
overall health. Also, it is important for men to know there are
effective oral ED treatments such as Cialis available; men should
see their doctor when they are experiencing symptoms." What To Do?
A man with any concerns about his erectile function in particular
or his health in general should see a doctor or other healthcare
professional for either a brief consultation or a thorough physical
exam, including diagnostic tests, depending on the man's medical
history and the doctor's familiarity with that history. In addition
to the negative impact that ED can have on a man's life, ED can
also be an indication of an underlying medical condition such as
diabetes, high blood pressure and/or cardiovascular disease. There
is plenty a man can do to prepare for a doctor's visit, including
being prepared to ask questions. For additional suggestions, see
the October/November issue of Best Life on newsstands now, or visit
http://www.bestlifeonline.com/ or http://www.cialis.com/. Survey
Methodology This survey of 4,043 men aged 40 to 60, living in the
United States, was conducted by Harris Interactive(R) on behalf of
Lilly ICOS, the maker of Cialis, Best Life magazine, and in
association with Dr. Ridwan Shabsigh of Columbia University Medical
Center and New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia. The survey was
fielded online from June 3, 2005 - June 17, 2005 across the U.S.,
specifically over-sampling participants in Atlanta, Chicago,
Detroit, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, Miami, New York,
Philadelphia, Seattle, and San Diego. Data were weighted to be
representative of the total U.S. population of men aged 40 to 60 on
the basis of age, gender, education, household income,
race/ethnicity, and propensity to be online. Although online
samples are not probability samples, in theory, with samples of
this size, one can say with 95 percent certainty that the results
have a sampling error of plus or minus 1.54 percentage points.
Sampling error for the sub-sample of men who are not at all likely
or somewhat likely to consult a doctor about erectile problems
(n=901) is plus or minus 3.26 percentage points. About Cialis
Cialis(R) (tadalafil) was approved by the FDA in November 2003 for
the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Cialis is available by
prescription only and is not for everyone. Men taking nitrates,
often used for chest pain, should not take Cialis. Such a
combination could cause a sudden, unsafe drop in blood pressure.
The most common side effects with Cialis were headache, upset
stomach, delayed backache or muscle ache. As with any ED tablet, in
the rare event of priapism (an erection lasting more than four
hours), men should seek immediate medical attention to avoid
long-term injury. Men should not drink alcohol in excess with
Cialis. Cialis does not protect a man or his partner from sexually
transmitted diseases, including HIV. In rare instances, men taking
prescription ED tablets (including Cialis) reported a sudden
decrease or loss of vision. It's not possible to determine if these
events are related directly to the ED tablets or to other factors.
If a man has a sudden decrease or loss of vision, he should stop
taking any ED tablet and seek immediate medical attention. Men
should discuss their medical conditions and all medications with
their doctors to ensure Cialis is right for them and that they are
healthy enough for sexual activity. For full patient information,
visit http://www.cialis.com/. About Lilly ICOS LLC Lilly ICOS LLC,
a joint venture between ICOS Corporation (NASDAQ:ICOS) and Eli
Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY), developed tadalafil for the treatment
of erectile dysfunction. ICOS Corporation, a biotechnology company
headquartered in Bothell, Washington, is dedicated to bringing
innovative therapeutics to patients. Through Lilly ICOS LLC, ICOS
is marketing its first product, Cialis, for the treatment of
erectile dysfunction. ICOS is working to develop treatments for
serious unmet medical conditions such as pulmonary arterial
hypertension, benign prostatic hyperplasia, cancer and inflammatory
diseases. Additional information about ICOS is available at
http://www.icos.com/. Lilly, a leading innovation-driven
corporation is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and
best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest
research from its own worldwide laboratories and from
collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered
in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines
and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical
needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at
http://www.lilly.com/. About Best Life Best Life is the fastest
growing men's magazine in the country(3). Published by Rodale,
Inc., it offers hands-on advice about health, fitness, family,
personal style and financial security for affluent, accomplished
men. Through stunning photography, exceptional writing from noted
authors and compelling service journalism, Best Life shows men how
to spend their most precious resources -- time and money -- to live
life to the fullest. The magazine will publish seven times through
2005 and 10 times in 2006. About Harris Interactive Harris
Interactive Inc. (http://www.harrisinteractive.com/), the 13th
largest market research firm in the world, is a Rochester, NY-based
global research company that blends premier strategic consulting
with innovative and efficient methods of investigation, analysis
and application. Known for The Harris Poll(R) and for pioneering
Internet-based research methods, Harris Interactive conducts
proprietary and public research to help its clients achieve clear,
material and enduring results. Harris Interactive combines its
intellectual capital, databases and technology to advance market
leadership through its U.S. offices and wholly owned subsidiaries,
HI Europe in London (http://www.hieurope.com/), Novatris in Paris
(http://www.novatris.com/), and through an independent global
network of affiliate market research companies. Except for
historical information contained herein, this press release
contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such
forward-looking statements are based on current expectations,
estimates and projections about the industry, management beliefs
and certain assumptions made by the management of ICOS and Lilly.
Investors are cautioned that matters subject to forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties, including economic,
competitive, governmental, technological, legal and other factors
discussed in the two companies' respective filings with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, which may affect the business
and prospects of the two companies and Lilly ICOS. Results and the
timing and outcome of events may differ materially from those
expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements in this
press release. More specifically, there can be no assurance that
Cialis will achieve commercial success or that competing products
will not pre-empt market opportunities that might exist for the
product. P-LLY (1) Diseases and Conditions: Impotence,
http://www.umm.edu/men/impotenc.htm. Data accessed November 20,
2003 (2) Shabsigh, R. (2002). Back To Great Sex: Overcome ED and
Reclaim Lost Intimacy. (New York: Kensington) 45-46 (3) Audit
Bureau of Investigations, August 2005 Report.
http://www.accessabc.com/ Date accessed: 09/07/2005. (Photo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050919/BESTLIFELOGO )
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20050919/BESTLIFELOGO
DATASOURCE: Lilly ICOS LLC CONTACT: Kindra Strupp of Lilly,
+1-317-277-5170; Lacy Fitzpatrick of ICOS, +1-425-415-2207; or
Karen Mazzotta of Best Life, +1-631-549-1580
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