Patient-reported sexual symptomatology in predicting functional and insufficient erectile capacity

We evaluated the clinical utility of patient-reported erectile functioning information in discriminating Rigiscan-determined functional (greater than or equal to 70% penile tip and base rigidity and greater than or equal to 10 minutes' duration) from insufficient (less than 40% penile tip and base rigidity and less than or equal to 6 minutes' duration) erectile capacity, in a population of chronically ill men presenting with erectile dysfunction. Forty-three male veterans completed an extensive medical and psychologic evaluation, including a detailed assessment of sexual functioning, and then underwent two consecutive nights of supervised in-hospital Rigiscan sleep evaluations. Results of discriminant function analysis indicated that patient reports of morning erections and ejaculatory ability accurately predicted group membership for functional (96.7%) and insufficient (100%) categories. Careful attention to patient self-report is suggested for the urologist's initial appraisal of erectile dysfunction in populations of older, chronically ill men.