Correlation of improved erectile function and rate of successful intercourse with improved emotional well-being assessed with the Self-Esteem And Relationship questionnaire in men treated with sildenafil for erectile dysfunction and stratified by age.
BACKGROUND
The quality of life consequences of erectile dysfunction (ED) include depression, anxiety, and loss of self-esteem. The Self-Esteem And Relationship (SEAR) questionnaire is a validated, patient-administered, psychometric instrument specific to ED.


OBJECTIVE
To determine correlations between erectile function (EF), intercourse success, and emotional well-being measured with the SEAR questionnaire in men treated with sildenafil citrate for ED and stratified by age (< 50 years, 50-65 years, and > 65 years).


METHODS
This was an open-label, flexible-dose trial of sildenafil (25, 50 and 100 mg) administered for 10 weeks to 382 men with ED (mean +/- SD age, 55 +/- 13 years; mean ED duration, 4 years), which was conducted at 62 centers in the United States.


METHODS
Analysis (by intent-to-treat, n = 368) of the change from baseline to the week-10 endpoint in the SEAR questionnaire Self-Esteem subscale, the intercourse success rate (percent of occasions at which an erection that lasted long enough for successful intercourse was achieved), and their correlation.


RESULTS
For the overall population, there was mean +/- SD improvement (p < 0.0001, paired t-tests) in the Self-Esteem subscale (56 +/- 25 to 79 +/- 22) and intercourse success rate (21 +/- 30% to 70 +/- 36%), which showed positive correlation (p < 0.0001). Secondary outcomes (i.e., EF domain of the International Index of Erectile Function; event log frequency of erection hard enough for sexual intercourse and of ejaculation/orgasm) also improved (p < 0.0001) and correlated positively with the SEAR Self-Esteem subscale and Sexual Relationship domain (p < 0.05 for all correlations). All 10 correlations were positive (p < 0.05) in men aged 50 to 65 years, eight were positive in men aged > 65 years, and six were positive in men aged < 50 years. The most common treatment-related adverse events were mild-to-moderate headache (12% of patients), vasodilatation (7%), and rhinitis (4%).


CONCLUSIONS
Men treated with sildenafil for ED demonstrated improved erectile function and an increased intercourse success rate, which correlated positively with improvement in SEAR measures of self-esteem and sexual relationship.
Steidle
Christopher P
CP
Northeast Indiana Research, LLC, Fort Wayne, IN, USA.
Stecher
Vera J
VJ
Pace
Cindy
C
Tseng
Li-Jung
LJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003075:Coitus / Q000523:psychology*; D004644:Emotions; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000523:psychology; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011594:Psychometrics; D011687:Purines; D011788:Quality of Life; D012649:Self Concept; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate