Depressive Symptoms Impact Sexual Health Among Patients With Sjögren Disease

Sexual satisfaction among patients with Sjögren disease (SjD) is negatively impacted by the condition, with depressive symptoms playing a key role, according to study results published in RMD Open.

Using data from a prospective multicenter cohort, researchers in France assessed the impact of SjD on sexual satisfaction using the Qualisex questionnaire and identified correlations between sexual satisfaction and various patient characteristics. Patients with SjD were recruited between 2006 and 2009 and were followed-up for 20 years.

A total of 169 participants completed the Qualisex questionnaire, but 77 (46%) were excluded for various reasons, leaving 92 participants for analysis. The majority of participants (92%) were women and the median age was 56 years (interquartile range [IQR], 44-59 years). The median Qualisex score was 3.4 (IQR, 1.1-5.9), indicating variability in sexual satisfaction.

Participants with the highest Qualisex scores (indicating worse sexual satisfaction) were generally older (median age, 58 vs 52 years; P =.005) and had worse overall health metrics. They reported higher Sjögren disease Patient Reported Index scores (median, 6.8 vs 4.3; P <.0001), lower Short Form 36 Health Survey Questionnaire scores for both mental (median, 43 vs 49; P =.0035) and physical components (median, 31 vs 35; P =.035), and higher Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores for depression (median, 9 vs 2; P <.0001) and anxiety (median, 11 vs 7; P =.006).

Despite these findings, disease activity scores, anti-Ro/SSA positivity, and systemic involvement did not significantly differ between groups. Differences in sexual satisfaction and other characteristics were not significant between men and women, though men had a slightly shorter disease duration (median, 5 vs 8 years; P =.04).

Results of multivariable regression analyses revealed that HADS depression scores were most strongly correlated with sexual satisfaction (odds ratio [OR], 0.31; 95% CI, 0.14-0.47; P <.001), with Sjögren disease Patient Reported Index scores showing a weaker association (OR, 0.28; 95% CI, -0.01 to 58; P =.057). These findings suggest that the impact of SjD on a patient’s sexual life is primarily driven by depression, with disease-related symptoms playing a secondary role.

Study limitations include the low survey response rate, the absence of genital examination and fibromyalgia screening, and limited applicability of the findings to younger individuals.

The study authors concluded, “The thorough assessment of patients diagnosed with SjD should include an evaluation of sexual health, ensuring this crucial dimension of patient care is not neglected.”

This article originally appeared on Rheumatology Advisor