Relationship between the symptoms of COPD and the quality of sexual life

Abstract

Objective This study was conducted to assess the relationship between the symptoms experienced by women with COPD and the quality of their sexual life. Method This study was designed as a descriptive cross-sectional study. The study was conducted at a hospital’s chest diseases clinic located in the western of Turkey. The sample comprises 62 female patients hospitalized with diagnosis of COPD. A questionnaire form, the Medical Research Council Scale (MRCS), the COPD Assessment Test (CAT) and the Sexual Quality of Life-Female (SQOL-F) applied to the women with COPD. Frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, Kruskal Wallis test, Mann-Whitney U Test, correlation and regression analysis, were used for the data analysis process. Findings The decrease in the education level of the participants who have any accompanying chronic disease, and experience symptoms during sexual intercourse negatively affects their quality of sexual life. The quality of sexual life decreases as age, duration of marriage and duration of illness increase (p < 0.05). The results of the linear regression analysis carried out to predict the quality of sexual life of women with COPD shown that the increase in mMRC and CAT significantly decreased the quality of sexual life. These variables explain 58% of the variance. Conclusions The result of the study shown the sexual quality of life of women with COPD was impaired and COPD symptoms affect them.

Female sexual dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

“…Our results did not comply with the study comprising female COPD patients in terms of the association between FEV 1 % values and sexual dysfunction 18 . In addition, another recent report pointing the relation of increased mMRC scores which directly evaluated dyspnea sensation in daily life activities, and decreased quality of sexual life did not match with our findings 9 . Hypoxemia is the main cause of dyspnea and reduced exercise capacity in COPD 1 .…”

“…As defined in the study by Kinsman et al 24 , dyspnea and fatigue frequently concurred in COPD and inevitably contributed to the disease process and progression. Contrary to previously mentioned reports age, duration of the disease, and partner status were not found as the determinants of limitations in sexual relations in our study 9 , 10 , 18 . In the age group between 52-65, we noted an inverse correlation between BMI and sexual function which supported the abovementioned studies 10 .…”

“…This study indicated that female patients with COPD experienced difficulties in their sexual activities compared to similar age individuals who did not have COPD ( p <0.001). 82.9% of study patients presented sexual dysfunction according to FSFI questionnaire, which was consistent with earlier reports that were concentrating on sexual life of females with COPD 8 , 9 , 18 . Since the sexuality of females was a rare topic and erectile dysfunction was a biological deficit and a more noticeable disorder, sexual dysfunction in male COPD patients was much more expressed than 'females' in the published literature.…”

“…BECK depression scores were not a significant variable in predicting sexual dysfunction in this current study ( p = 0.465). Since we were unable to demonstrate a causal link between sexual dysfunction and depression, which was not parallel with the previous studies, depression might be considered a distinct entity in this present research 8 , 9 .…”

“…Este estudio indicó que las pacientes del sexo femenino con EPOC experimentaron dificultades en sus actividades sexuales en comparación con individuos de edad similar que no tenían EPOC (p <0.001). El 82.9% de los pacientes del estudio presentaron alteración de la función sexual según el cuestionario FSFI, lo que fue consistente con los informes anteriores que se concentraban en la vida sexual de las mujeres con EPOC 8 , 9 , 18 . Dado que la sexualidad de las mujeres era un tema raro y la alteración de la función eréctil era un déficit biológico y un trastorno más notable, la alteración de la función sexual en pacientes masculinos con EPOC estaba mucho más expresada que en las "mujeres" en la literatura publicada.…”