Sexual Dysfunction and its Determinants in Male Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Hassan O. Ghareeb; Ghada M. Khafagy; Hatem H. Eleishi; Hala A. Hussein; Marwa D. Hasan

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2021.6031

Authors

Hassan O. Ghareeb Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9456-8067
Ghada M. Khafagy Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6941-7291
Hatem H. Eleishi Department of Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Hala A. Hussein Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
Marwa D. Hasan Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2021.6031

Keywords:

Depression, Sexual dysfunction, Rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic inflammatory disease affects about 0.5–1% of adults. Sexuality is an integral part of human quality of life and responsible for our individual welfare, study the association between them is highly important as many studies revealed that sexuality is greatly affected in RA patients.

AIM: This study aims to determine the possible different risk factors for sexual dysfunction (SD) in RA and to study the magnitude of SD among RA male patients.

METHODS: This is a case–control study carried on 60 males – aged between 18–45 years – attending Family Medicine and Rheumatology Clinic in Kasr Alainy, Cairo University, Egypt. Participants were divided into case and control groups, both groups were matched regarding socioeconomic status. All participants were evaluated for sexual function using international index of erectile function (IIEF), psychological state using patient health questionnaire (PHQ9), disease-related disability using health assessment questionnaire, disease severity using disease activity score 28, and serum testosterone level was assessed.

RESULTS: There was a statistically significant difference between both groups regarding IIEF (OR o’s SD among patients were 1.66), PHQ9, and serum testosterone (p = 0.005). There was highly statistically significant negative correlation between sexual problems and depression, disease caused disability, RA duration and there was highly statistically significant positive correlation between sexual problems and serum hormonal level.

CONCLUSION: Sexual problems are a prominent problem in males who suffer from RA. Sexual function was significant associated with disease activity, depression, quality of life, and with lower levels of total and free testosterone.

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