Simplified Assessment of Erectile Dysfunction in Adult Men With Sickle Cell Disease: A Cross-Sectional Validation Study
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) and assess the diagnostic performance of simplified tools - the Erection Hardness Score (EHS), the Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS) single-item scale, and a visual analog "Erectometer" - against the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) among adult men with sickle cell disease (SCD). METHODS: Cross-sectional validation study including 33 adult men with confirmed SCD followed at a regional reference center in Bahia, Brazil (July-December 2021). Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory data (total and free testosterone, luteinising hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), estradiol, ferritin) were collected. Erectile function was assessed using IIEF-5 (reference standard), EHS, MMAS single-item, and the Erectometer. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and area under the curve (AUC) quantified diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: Median age was 35 [IQR 28-48] years; 33% reported prior ischemic priapism. By IIEF-5, 15/33 (45.5%) had moderate-severe ED (≤16). AUCs against IIEF-5 were 0.85 for EHS, 0.82 for MMAS, and 0.90 for the Erectometer (all p<0.001), with sensitivities ≥ 81% and specificities ≥ 79%. CONCLUSION: ED is frequent in Brazilian adults with SCD. Brief instruments (EHS, MMAS single-item, Erectometer) show excellent agreement with IIEF-5 and appear suitable for routine screening, potentially enabling earlier multidisciplinary care.
Source: Cureus
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.99066
Authors: Lucas Neves de Oliveira, Jair Bomfim Santos, Anna Paloma Martins Rocha Ribeiro, Caroline Silva, Ricardo Brianezi Tiraboschi, Jose Bessa Junior
Institution: Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4417285969