Assessment of postbrachytherapy sexual function: A comparison of the IIEF-5 and the MSEFS

Zagar, Timothy M.; Stock, Richard G.; Cesaretti, Jamie A.; Stone, Nelson N.

doi:10.1016/j.brachy.2006.11.003

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Volume 6, Issue 1 , Pages 26-33, January 2007

Assessment of postbrachytherapy sexual function: A comparison of the IIEF-5 and the MSEFS

Timothy M. Zagar
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Department of Urology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Richard G. Stock
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Department of Urology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Corresponding author. Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, Box 1236, 1184 5th Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA. Tel.: +1-212-241-7502; fax: +1-212-410-7194.
Jamie A. Cesaretti
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Department of Urology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Nelson N. Stone
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
- Department of Urology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY

Received 25 March 2006; received in revised form 30 October 2006; accepted 3 November 2006.

Abstract

Purpose

This study is to compare the Mount Sinai Erectile Function Score (MSEFS), our brachytherapy program's physician-assigned scale, with patients' independently completed International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5).

Methods and materials

A total of 1202 patients with T1–T3 prostate cancer were treated with ultrasound-guided radioactive seed implantation±EBRT with at least one visit where both MSEFS and IIEF-5 were completed. Spearman rho correlations were performed.

Results

The MSEFS significantly correlated with the total IIEF-5 scores on all comparisons. The coefficient was 0.65 for comparisons at initial consultation and 0.76 for all visits. The correlations remained strong, averaging to 0.76 for visits 1 through 10.

Conclusions

In assessing erectile dysfunction after radiation, the MSEFS correlates well with, but cannot be replaced by, the IIEF-5, which is weighted toward one's degree of sexual desire. More insight into patients' erectile function after brachytherapy may be gotten if the IIEF-15 is used instead of the IIEF-5 with our MSEFS.

Keywords: Prostate brachytherapy, Erectile dysfunction, Impotence, SHIM, IIEF-5