Quality of partnership in patients with erectile dysfunction after sildenafil treatment

Objective: A comprehensive investigation on the quality of partnership of m ale patients with erectile dysfunction (ED) after treatment with sildenafil vs. untreated patients, as perceived by both the patients and their female partners. Methods: This report describes an observational, cross-sectional exploratory study comparing ED patients responsive to sildenafil with ED p atients prior to therapy. Assessments included the 'International Index of Erectile Function' (IIEF) and the 'Partnerschaftsfragebogen' (PFB), a partn ership questionnaire used in German-speaking countries. The comparability o f the two study groups was examined using a stepwise legit model. Significa nt intergroup differences regarding demographics and history were identifie d and included as confounding variables in the assessment of Quality of Par tnership differences using ANCOVA. A regression analysis was performed to d etermine the association between the mean total IIEF scores and Quality of Partnership measures. Results: 105 patients were included in the study. Aft er adjustment for confounding variables, the groups varied significantly wi th respect to Quality of Partnership as perceived by men (mean score PFB 61 .8 +/- 13.9 vs. 54.4 +/- 15.5; p <0.001) and women (mean score PFB 63.1 +/- 13.6 vs. 57.0 +/- 14.7; p = 0.006). In men, all three PFB subscales (quarr eling, tenderness, togetherness) differed significantly between the two stu dy groups. In the female partners, the tenderness and togetherness domains varied significantly. Erectile function correlated highly significantly wit h tenderness and togetherness in both the male patients and their partners. Conclusion: Our data indicate that the Quality of Partnership reported by both the men and their female partners is significantly better in appropria tely treated ED patients than in untreated controls.