Sexual quality of life in patients with axial spondyloarthritis

Abstract

Background: Research on the impact of health status on sexual activity and sexual quality of life (QOL) in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is scarce. Aim: The overall aim of the studies was to examine the impact of health status on sexual activity and sexual QOL in male and female patients with axSpA. Methods: Three hundred and seventy-nine consecutive patients with axSpA, aged 18–81 years, who visited the outpatient rheumatology clinics at two Norwegian hospitals were included. Data on demographic factors, disease, treatment, and lifestyle variables were collected by doctors and nurses from questionnaires, laboratory test results, direct interviews, and physical examinations, at the baseline and after 5 years. At the followup, 245 patients participated. A broad-spectrum data collection method was used to obtain data for demographics, patient-reported outcome measures (PROMS), and disease activity/damage. PROMS measures included the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients Global Score (BAS-G), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Functional Index (BASFI), Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Activity Index (BASDAI), 15D Measure of Health-Related Quality of Life (15D), Health Survey Short-Form-36 items (SF-36), and Sexual Quality of Life–Female (SQOL-F). Data on disease activity and damage were obtained from the Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) and the Maastricht Ankylosing Spondylitis Enthesis Score (MASES). Conclusions: This cohort of outpatient patients with axSpA reported a low impact of health status on sexual activity and sexual QOL. Sexual QOL did not seem to worsen over time and remained stable through the 5-year follow-up despite an increase in the number of comorbidities. Effective disease control and changes in healthy lifestyle habits may help to improve the outcomes for these patients.