Sexual function in Moroccan women with rheumatoid arthritis and its relationship with disease activity

The objective of this study was to evaluate sexual function in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using an auto-questionnaire Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and study its correlation with disease activity. Sixty patients with RA and 40 healthy controls were included in this exploratory study....

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical rheumatology 2015-06, Vol.34 (6), p.1047-1051
Main Authors: Hari, Asmae, Rostom, Samira, Lahlou, Racha, Bahiri, Rachid, Hajjaj-Hassouni, Najia
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Arthritis, Rheumatoid - epidemiology
Arthritis, Rheumatoid - physiopathology
Case-Control Studies
Female
Humans
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Middle Aged
Morocco - epidemiology
Orgasm
Original Article
Personal Satisfaction
Quality of Life
Rheumatology
Sexual Behavior
Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological - epidemiology
Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological - epidemiology
Surveys and Questionnaires
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The objective of this study was to evaluate sexual function in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) using an auto-questionnaire Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and study its correlation with disease activity. Sixty patients with RA and 40 healthy controls were included in this exploratory study. Sociodemographic, clinical, and laboratory characteristics were assessed. The disease activity was assessed by auto-questionnaires Routine Assessment of Patient Index Data 3 (RAPID3) and Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease Activity Index 5 (RADAI5) judged by 28 DAS ESR. Sexual function was assessed by an auto-questionnaire specific for female sexuality: FSFI during the last 4 weeks. The definition of sexual dysfunction was considered by FSFI score less than or equal to 26.5. The mean age of RA patients and controls was 45.95 ± 9.3 and 45.01 ± 9.2, respectively. According to FSFI, the percentage of FSD in women with RA was significantly higher than that in the control group. All dimensions of sexuality were affected (desire, arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and satisfaction) except pain. The multivariate linear regression analysis indicated that the swollen joints and the RADAI5 were the independent variables of disease activity associated with sexual dysfunction in women with RA. This study suggests that sexual dysfunction among women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis is found when a targeted questionnaire is used to identify it and that the increased disease activity has a negative effect of sexual function.
ISSN:0770-3198
1434-9949
DOI:10.1007/s10067-015-2888-z