This study aims to examine the predictors related to erectile dysfunction (ED) among Chinese diabetics. From 1995 to 1999, 327 men with diabetes mellitus (DM) were enrolled into this study. They completed face to face interview, professional psychogenic assessment, measurements of penile hemodynamic parameters and measurements of hormone levels. Complications of diabetes were obtained from hospital medical records. One hundred and twenty nine diabetics were diagnosed as ED. The associations between individual predictor and ED were accessed using both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models. We found that the risk of ED was significantly associated with age (adjusted odd ratios (OR) = 1.16, 95% confident intervals (CI): 1.10-1.38), duration of DM (adjusted OR = 1.30, 95% CI: 1.28-1.87), lower physical activity (adjusted OR = 1.67, 95% CI: 1.15-3.03), retinopathy (adjusted OR = 1.15, 95% CI:1.01-1.89), neuropathy (adjusted OR = 2.07, 95% CI:1.54-3.06) and depression (adjusted OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.32-2.56). The study shows that diabetics with ED suffer more serious complications than those patients with non-ED. ED may act as a sentinel event for underlying complications among male diabetics. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.