Cao Xun, Zhong Jiu-Di, Yang Tian-Zhen, Jiang Yu-Chuan, Wen Zhe-Sheng
Collaborative Innovation Center of Cancer Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, No. 651 Dong-Feng Road East, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China.
Department of Thoracic Oncology, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510060, China.
Qual Life Res. 2017 Dec;26(12):3331-3341. doi: 10.1007/s11136-017-1677-3. Epub 2017 Aug 1.
Sexual function is a significant part of patients' quality of life, which is another important aspect of cancer. This study assessed and compared the sexual function of male esophageal cancer patients to that of age-matched normal controls through postoperative follow-up surveys.
The study included 105 male esophageal cancer patients aged 38-81 years who underwent a curative-intent esophagectomy between April 2012 and May 2014. This observational study included sociodemographic and clinicopathological characteristics and responses to sexual function questionnaires International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) at 6 and 12 months after surgery. An age-matched normal control group was recruited. Non-parametric tests were used when appropriate.
The median patient age was 59 years. The factors significantly associated with sexual dysfunction on the 6-month survey included older age, and postoperative complications. At 12 months after surgery, older age was significantly associated with poorer sexual function. The sexual function scores significantly increased from 6 to 12 months after surgery (P < 0.05); there was no difference in the patients' 12-month sexual function scores and those of the normal controls (P > 0.05). Notably, compared to older patients (age ≥60 years), the younger (age <60 years) patients reported a significantly better sexual function scores (P < 0.05).
Age, and postoperative complications were the factors significantly associated with sexual function. Impaired sexual function after primary treatment can be recovered in male esophageal cancer patients; younger patients may regain sexual function better than their older counterparts.
性功能是患者生活质量的重要组成部分，也是癌症的另一个重要方面。本研究通过术后随访调查评估并比较了男性食管癌患者与年龄匹配的正常对照者的性功能。
该研究纳入了105例年龄在38 - 81岁之间、于2012年4月至2014年5月接受了根治性食管切除术的男性食管癌患者。这项观察性研究包括社会人口统计学和临床病理特征，以及术后6个月和12个月时对性功能问卷国际勃起功能指数（IIEF）的回答。招募了一个年龄匹配的正常对照组。在适当的时候使用非参数检验。
患者的中位年龄为59岁。6个月调查中与性功能障碍显著相关的因素包括年龄较大和术后并发症。术后12个月时，年龄较大与性功能较差显著相关。术后性功能评分从6个月到12个月显著增加（P < 0.05）；患者12个月时的性功能评分与正常对照组无差异（P > 0.05）。值得注意的是，与年龄较大的患者（年龄≥60岁）相比，年龄较小的患者（年龄<60岁）报告的性功能评分显著更好（P < 0.05）。
年龄和术后并发症是与性功能显著相关的因素。男性食管癌患者初次治疗后受损的性功能可以恢复；年轻患者可能比老年患者更好地恢复性功能。
