Erectile Function Improvement After Kidney Transplant in Men: A 1-Year Follow-up Study

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Urology
• Andrology

Background:

• Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, impacting quality of life.
• Kidney transplantation can improve systemic health, but its effect on ED varies.
• Limited data exists on ED recovery post-living donor kidney transplant (LDKT) in specific populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate 1-year changes in erectile function after LDKT in Azerbaijani men with ESRD.
• To identify clinical predictors of improved erectile function post-transplant.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational study of 121 male ESRD patients undergoing LDKT (2017-2024).
• Erectile function assessed using the 5-item International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) pre-transplant and at 6 & 12 months post-transplant.
• Multivariate linear regression used to determine independent predictors of functional improvement.

Main Results:

• All patients had ED at baseline; mean IIEF-5 scores significantly increased from 11.0±3.8 to 14.0±4.8 at 1 year (P < .001).
• 97.5% of patients showed score improvement within 1 year, with a mean increase of 3.0±1.6 points.
• Baseline IIEF-5 score was the sole independent predictor of 1-year erectile function improvement (P < .001).

Conclusions:

• LDKT is associated with significant, progressive improvement in erectile function in men with ESRD over 1 year.
• Baseline erectile function is the primary determinant of recovery post-LDKT.
• Early evaluation and management of ED are crucial for patients with ESRD considering transplantation.