POS1515-HPR CONJUGAL RELATIONSHIPS IN MARRIED PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC INFLAMMATORY RHEUMATISMS

Abstract

BackgroundThe consequences of chronic inflammatory rheumatisms (CIR) on the sexuality and the relationships between the subject and his/her partner are still underestimated and insufficiently studied.ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to investigate the impact of CIR on conjugal relationships.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study involving patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (2010 ACR/EULAR criteria) and spondyloarthritis (SpA) (2009 ASAS criteria). All the patients included in the study were married. We collected demographic data, and participants were asked to complete a questionnaire on their conjugal relationships.ResultsWe enrolled 75 patients (40 RA and 35 SpA) with a sex ratio of 0.4 and a mean age of 55.35 ± 9.81 years [22-85]. The mean chronic CIR duration was 11.85 ± 3.4 years. The mean duration of marriage was 9.5 ± 2.6 years. The mean age at marriage was 27 ± 6.41 years [19-33]. The mean number of off-springs was 4. Forty-nine percent of patients and 22.3% of the partners had a profession, respectively. Forty one percent of the partners had a chronic disease: diabetes (n=12), hypertension (n=10), dyslipidemia (n=7), CIR (n=7), coronary disease (n=3), and other conditions (n=5). A psychiatric illness was noted in 22.6% of cases: depression (n=9), anxiety (n=6), and bipolar disorder (n=2). Sixty-four percent of patients consider their spouses sympathetic to their illness. Eighty-nine percent of participants have noticed a change in their life as a couple before and after the CIR onset. According to 64% of participants, the CIR had a negative impact on their married lives. The spouses’ emotional reactions to the disease were as follows: indifference (30.6%), denial (29.3%), anger (26.6%), and fear (13.6%). Patients reported being accompanied by their spouses to their medical appointments in 36% of cases, and 40% of them were asked questions by their spouses about their disease and treatment. The CIR has resulted in the termination of the marriage in 2.6% of cases.ConclusionPatients suffering from chronic diseases such as CIR are more frequently exposed to difficulties in their conjugal relationships. The disease has thus important consequences on the subject’s quality of life, emotional and interpersonal state. A better compliance with the chronic disease and its treatment may improve the couples’ relationships.Disclosure of InterestsNone declared