Around a fifth of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) feel that their condition has a "considerably" negative impact on their sexual activity, Norwegian researchers have found.
Reporting at the 2006 Annual European Congress of Rheumatology in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, the investigators said that 31% of the RA sufferers they questioned reported that their condition had no impact on sexual activity, with an additional 38% reporting only "little" impact.
In contrast, 21% reported their condition as having a considerable impact on their sexual activity and 10% said that their disorder made sexual activity either almost or totally impossible.
Compared to the female patients, men were more likely to report a large impact of RA on sexual activity, at 27.8% versus 40.0%, respectively, with patients with less than 12 years of education more likely to report a large impact, compared to those with more than 12 years education, with respective rates at 35.4% versus 24.6%.
Surprisingly, whilst joint pain associated with the disease was not reported as playing a significant factor in deterioration of sex lives, higher levels of fatigue predicted perceived problems with sexual activity.
For their study, the investigators enrolled 1041 patients with an average age of 62 years, and an average disease duration of 14 years.
Each participant responded to a postal questionnaire in 2004 comprising several health status measures. Out of the 1041 respondents, 830 patients answered the question that addressed the perceived level of problems with sexual activity.
"Today's findings indicate the need for increased attention on effect of RA on sexual activity as well as reveal that sexual problems should be addressed as part of the general health care given to RA patients," explained lead author Ylva Helland, from Diakonhjemmet Hospital in Oslo, Norway.
"The complexity of the issue requires a broad and multi-disciplinary approach by health personnel to ensure patients are not limited in their ability to have sex."
Hey Jas,
Hey Jas,