Eduard García-Cruz

Low testosterone level predicts prostate cancer in re-biopsy in patients with high grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia.

Study Type – Prognosis (case series)

Linguistic and Psychometric Validation of the Erection Hardness Score to Spanish

INTRODUCTION The Erection Hardness Score (EHS) is a one-item questionnaire that assesses rigidity on a 4-point scale. AIM To perform a validation of a Spanish version of the EHS by comparison with the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. METHODS Validation of the EHS included: (i) professional translation of the scale; (ii) scientific evaluation of the translation from four independent urologists; (iii) assessment on five individuals to test correct comprehension and idiomatic adequacy (iv) validation of the EHS by a cross-sectional, multicenter comparison with the IIEF. MAIN OUTCOME METHODS Patients were required to respond to a Spanish version of the EHS and IIEF. Statistic correlation was carried out between the EHS score and IIEF-erectile function domain (EF) score. RESULTS A total of 125 patients were recruited. Overall prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) by the EHS questionnaire was of 80.2% patients (n=97). Mean EHS was 2.74±0.97. Mean IIEF-EF score was 17.4±9.5. The EHS showed good reliability. The rate of missing responses to the EHS questionnaire was 0%. A one-factor analysis of variance was performed between the EHS and EF subdomain of IIEF (P=0.000). Pearsons correlation coefficient between EHS and EF subdomain of IIEF was 0.834, P<0.01. CONCLUSIONS The EHS is a reliable tool to test ED and its Spanish version was satisfactorily understood by patients and correlated with IIEF-EF.

Sexual Satisfaction: An Opportunity to Explore Overall Health in Men

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the use of sexual dissatisfaction as a marker of poor overall health. Secondary objectives were to assess the effect of age on this measure and the utility of the Brief Sexual Symptom Checklist (BSSC) for general practitioners (GPs) and patients. METHODS This is a multicenter, cross-sectional study conducted in Spain among men aged ≥50 years presenting with mood disorders or cardiovascular comorbidities (hypertension, dyslipidemia, or diabetes) visiting a GP for any reason. A group of men without these comorbidities were also analyzed. The main outcome measures were prevalence of sexual dissatisfaction, based on the comorbidities analyzed (type, number, or their absence) and problems with sexual function in dissatisfied men (overall and in men aged < 60 or ≥60 years). RESULTS Seven hundred eighteen men aged 61.7 ± 7.1 years who presented the analyzed comorbidities participated, 69.8% of whom were sexually dissatisfied. Men without comorbidities (n = 144) were younger and had lower prevalence of sexual dissatisfaction (54.2%; P = .001). Sexual dissatisfaction increased with age. Having these comorbidities (especially mood disorders) significantly increased the likelihood of sexual dissatisfaction after adjusting for age. Erection problems and lack of interest in sex were the most reported problems, independent of the presence of comorbidities. Differences in the prevalence of these problems were found in men with and without comorbidities after splitting the population into 2 age groups. GPs and dissatisfied patients found the BSSC useful and easy to use. CONCLUSION Assessment of sexual satisfaction and related sexual problems using the BSSC could help in approaching mens overall health. Further research is needed.