Institute of Rheumatology, 128 00 Prague, Czech Republic.
Department of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, 162 52 Prague, Czech Republic.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Jan 5;19(1):612. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19010612.
Only a few studies have addressed sexual health in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). This study aimed to compare female sexual function and pelvic floor muscle function in SSc patients with healthy controls (HC) matched by age, and to identify the potential implications of clinical features on sexual function. Our cohort included 90 women with SSc and 90 HC aged 18-70 years that completed six well-established and validated questionnaires assessing sexual function (Brief Index of Sexual Function for Women, Female Sexual Function Index, Sexual Quality of Life Questionnaire-Female, Sexual Function Questionnaire) and pelvic floor function (Pelvic Floor Impact Questionnaire-Short Form 7 and Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire Short Form). Results from women with SSc and HC were contrasted and correlated with relevant clinical features. The prevalence of female sexual dysfunction was 73% in SSc patients (vs. 31% in HC). Women with SSc reported significantly worse pelvic floor function and sexual function than HC. Impaired sexual function was correlated with higher disease activity, the presence of dyspnea and interstitial lung disease, increased systemic inflammation, reduced physical activity, functional disability, more severe depression, more pronounced fatigue, and impaired quality of life. We demonstrate that sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent among women with SSc. This aspect of the disease deserves more attention both in clinical care and at the level of international research collaboration.
仅有少数研究探讨了系统性硬化症（SSc）患者的性健康问题。本研究旨在比较 SSc 患者和年龄匹配的健康对照者（HC）的女性性功能和盆底肌功能，并确定临床特征对性功能的潜在影响。我们的队列包括 90 名年龄在 18-70 岁的 SSc 女性患者和 90 名 HC，她们完成了六个经过充分验证的评估性功能的标准问卷（女性简明性功能指数、女性性功能指数、性健康问卷-女性版、性功能问卷）和评估盆底肌功能的问卷（盆底肌影响问卷-短表 7 项和盆腔器官脱垂/尿失禁性功能问卷短表）。对比 SSc 患者和 HC 的问卷结果，并与相关临床特征进行相关性分析。SSc 患者的女性性功能障碍患病率为 73%（HC 为 31%）。SSc 患者的盆底肌功能和性功能明显差于 HC。性功能障碍与疾病活动度更高、呼吸困难和间质性肺病存在、全身炎症增加、体力活动减少、功能残疾、更严重的抑郁、更明显的疲劳以及生活质量下降相关。我们证实 SSc 女性的性功能障碍患病率很高。该疾病的这一方面在临床护理和国际研究合作层面都值得更多关注。
