Merghati-Khoei Effat, Pirak Arezoo, Yazdkhasti Mansoureh, Rezasoltani Parvaneh
Sexologist, The Iranian National Centre for Addiction Studies (INCAS), Institution of Risk Behaviors Reduction, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Department of Midwifery, Instructor, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran.
J Res Med Sci. 2016 Dec 26;21:136. doi: 10.4103/1735-1995.196618. eCollection 2016.
Increased life expectancy and the growing phenomenon of aging can lead to increased burden of chronic diseases (CDs) which adversely affects the overall health of elderly, their sexuality in particular. Sexual life of an aged population is overlooked in many of the societies. In the present narrative review, we aim to assess the impact of CDs on sexual function of elderly people.
We used internet databases including PubMed, EMBASE, ISI Web of Science, Google Scholar, SID, Iran Medex, Magiran, IPPF, and UNFPA without time limit. Ninety-eight out of 174 relevant articles were selected which met the inclusion criteria: those articles were research-based in English or Persian (original or review articles) and textbooks; specified one or more CDs and sexual function of the cases; elderly people over the age of sixty, men and women; and coordination between articles and research goals. We excluded qualitative and case studies. We reported the most related CDs with sexual function in literature review and used the biological and psychological impact of the CDs on sexual function of elderly population based on the conceptual model of Verschuren . (2010).
The results of the studies were classified into the themes including physical, psychological, and cultural and social. Diabetes, cardiovascular, cancerous, and chronic respiratory diseases and also some medications can reduce sexual capacity and desire in particular resulting in negative impact on the quality of elderly sexual life. CDs may influence sexual expressions and responses which adversely affect one's mood and energy so that can cause depression and grief, as well as loss of self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-concept in elderly adults. The factors affecting sexuality of an elderly with CDs include cultural and mythical beliefs about age and illnesses, fear, and embarrass of changed physical appearance. The research conducted among elderly population examining the adverse influence of CDs on aged people's sexual life in general, sexual function and performance, and intimate interaction.
It is considered that programs on sexual health needs of aged population for the health-care workers can prove beneficial in improving sexual health.
预期寿命的增加和老龄化现象的加剧会导致慢性病负担加重，这对老年人的整体健康产生不利影响，尤其是他们的性功能。在许多社会中，老年人口的性生活被忽视。在本叙述性综述中，我们旨在评估慢性病对老年人性功能的影响。
我们使用了包括PubMed、EMBASE、ISI Web of Science、谷歌学术、SID、伊朗Medex、Magiran、国际计划生育联合会（IPPF）和联合国人口基金（UNFPA）在内的互联网数据库，没有时间限制。从174篇相关文章中筛选出98篇符合纳入标准的文章：这些文章是基于英文或波斯文的研究（原创或综述文章）以及教科书；明确了一种或多种慢性病以及病例的性功能；60岁以上的老年人，包括男性和女性；并且文章与研究目标一致。我们排除了定性研究和案例研究。我们在文献综述中报告了与性功能最相关的慢性病，并根据Verschuren（2010年）的概念模型，阐述了慢性病对老年人口性功能的生物学和心理学影响。
研究结果分为身体、心理、文化和社会等主题。糖尿病、心血管疾病、癌症和慢性呼吸道疾病以及一些药物会降低性功能和性欲，尤其会对老年人的性生活质量产生负面影响。慢性病可能会影响性表达和性反应，从而对人的情绪和精力产生不利影响，进而导致老年人出现抑郁和悲伤，以及自信心、自尊和自我概念的丧失。影响患有慢性病的老年人性功能的因素包括对年龄和疾病的文化及神话观念、恐惧以及对外表变化的尴尬。针对老年人口进行的研究普遍考察了慢性病对老年人性生活、性功能和表现以及亲密互动的不利影响。
人们认为，为医护人员提供的关于老年人口性健康需求的项目可能有助于改善性健康。
