The effect of erectile dysfunction on quality of life in male kidney transplant recipients.
Objective : To assess how erectile dysfunction (ED) affects the quality of life in male kidney transplant recipients.


METHODS
We randomly selected 150 cases of married male kidney transplant recipients. Using the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) Questionnaire, we divided our research subjects into ED group (n=63) and non-ED group (n = 87). The Short-Form health survey (SF-36) was used to evaluate the quality of life of the recipients. Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale was used to compare the mental health status of the two groups.


RESULTS
No significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed between the ED and non-ED groups in physical functioning (PF), role-physical (RP), or bodily pain (BP). However, the ED group exhibited a lower score (P < 0.05) than the non-ED group in general health (GH), vitality, social functioning (SF), role emotional (RE) and mental health (MH). There were 13 cases in the ED group with anxiety disorders (20.6%), which was clearly more than in the non-ED group (3.4%, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Erectile dysfunction is an important factor in the quality of life of male kidney transplant recipients.
Dr. Wei-Gang Wang, Second Department of Urology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
Wei-Gang
WG
Wang
Dr. Ping Li, Department of Rheumatology, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
Ping
P
Li
Dr. Yi-Shu Wang, Department of Pathology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
Yi-Shu
YS
Wang
Dr. Gang Wang, Second Department of Urology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
Gang
G
Wang
Dr. Yuan-Tao Wang, Second Department of Urology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
Yuan-Tao
YT
Wang
Dr. Hong-Lan Zhou, Second Department of Urology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
Hong-Lan
HL
Zhou
Erectile dysfunction; Kidney; Male; Quality of life; Renal transplant