4-1SEXUAL DYSFUNCTION IN WOMEN WITH HYPERTENSION: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Abstract

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction (SD) has been recently demonstrated as more frequent in women compared to men, and it is well known that hypertension is a significant risk for SD in male patients. However, data regarding SD in hypertensive women are far from conclusive. Aim: the study aimed to evaluate the relationship between SD and hypertension (HT) in women. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in a private primary healthcare clinic in Serang Banten, Indonesia, from August to September 2019. The study involved all women aged 18 years or older, being married and sexually active in the past four weeks. Exclusion criteria were pregnant, had a history of pelvic surgery other than section Caesarea, and had a history of diabetes. Patient sexual function was assessed by Indonesian validated Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-I). Patients were classified as SD if the total FSFI-I score was ≤ 26.55. The variables of the study were demographic and hypertension-related characteristics, depression, and obstetric history. One-way ANOVA and Multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to evaluate the predictors of SD and calculate the Prevalence Odds Risk (POR) for SD in HT women. Results: Of a total of 442 women, 132 women had HT (29.86%, 88 treated, and 44 untreated). SD was found in 92% of hypertensive women compared with 73% of normotensive women (POR: 8.6, 95% Confidence Interval: 2.8–26.7). Furthermore, working women, overweight, and depression increased SD frequency. It was also determined that duration of hypertension is associated with declining of sexual function in women (p=0.03). Conclusion: This study showed that SD is more prevalent in hypertensive than in normotensive women. Patients and physicians need to deal with SD and should neither ignore nor superficially address this important issue.