In men with erectile dysfunction, satisfaction with quality of erections correlates with erection hardness, treatment satisfaction, and emotional well-being.
BACKGROUND
The validated Quality of Erection Questionnaire (QEQ) evaluates satisfaction with erection quality.


OBJECTIVE
To collate QEQ data, including correlations between QEQ outcomes and outcomes assessing emotional well-being, treatment satisfaction, and erection hardness after sildenafil citrate treatment.


METHODS
In four trials, men older than 18 years and with erectile dysfunction, a stable sexual partner, and no recent phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor use were randomized to double-blind flexible-dose sildenafil or placebo (1:1 ratio) for 6 or 10 weeks (two trials), fixed-dose 50 mg, 100 mg, and placebo (1:1:1 ratio) for 8 weeks (one trial), and 50 mg and 100 mg (1:1 ratio) for 4 weeks after 4 weeks of single-blind sildenafil 50 mg. Exclusion criteria included recent significant cardiovascular disease, use of nitrates, nitric oxide donors, cytochrome P450 3A4 inhibitors, or other erectile dysfunction treatment, and sildenafil hypersensitivity or previous severe or serious treatment-related adverse event.


METHODS
Scores on the QEQ, QEQ Question 5 (satisfaction with erection hardness), the Self-Esteem and Relationship Questionnaire, and the Erectile Dysfunction Inventory of Treatment Satisfaction; the percentage of occasions with Erection Hardness Score 3 (EHS 3, hard enough for penetration but not completely hard) and/or EHS 4 (completely hard and fully rigid); and Pearson correlation coefficients.


RESULTS
1,296 men (18-80 years) were randomized. Except for the percentage of occasions with EHS 3, all outcomes improved in men treated with sildenafil and correlated positively with the change in QEQ scores in all trials.


CONCLUSIONS
Satisfaction with the quality of erections, which is easily monitored with the QEQ, correlated positively with measures of emotional well-being and treatment satisfaction and with the change in percentage of erections that were completely hard and fully rigid, but not with the change in percentage of erections that were hard enough for penetration but not completely hard.
Kaminetsky
Jed C
JC
University Urology Associates, New York, NY, USA.
Depko
Andrzej J
AJ
Ströberg
Peter
P
Buvat
Jacques
J
Tseng
Li-Jung
LJ
Stecher
Vera J
VJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000339:Affect; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011687:Purines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D011788:Quality of Life / Q000523:psychology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate; D013450:Sulfones / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D011687:Purines; D013450:Sulfones; D000068677:Sildenafil Citrate