title: Measurement of erectile dysfunction in population-based studies: the use of a single question self-assessment in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study.
abstract: A concise, reliable means of assessing erectile dysfunction (ED) in large, multidisciplinary population-based studies is needed. A single, direct question for self-assessed ED was assessed in the population-based sample of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS). Of the 1156 respondents to the 1995-97 MMAS follow-up evaluation, 505 were randomly selected to complete either the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) (n = 254), or the Brief Male Sexual Function Inventory (BMSFI) (n = 251), in addition to the single question self-assessment. The proportion not classified due to missing data was MMAS-9%, BMSFI-8%, and IIEF-18%. The single question correlated well with these other measures (r = 0.71-0.78, P < 0.001). Prevalence was similar to that based on the IIEF, agreement was moderate (kappa = 0.56-0.58), and associations with previously identified risk factors were similar for each classification. Thus, the MMAS single question may be a practical tool for population-based studies where detailed clinical measures of ED are impractical.
authors.affiliation: New England Research Institutes, Watertown, MA 02172, USA. cderby@NERI.org
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Derby
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Araujo
authors.forename: C B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Johannes
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Feldman
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: McKinlay
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011153:Population; D012647:Self-Assessment