POS1525-HPR BODY SELF-ESTEEM AND SEXUAL FUNCTION IN IMMUNE-MEDIATED INFLAMMATORY DISEASES

Abstract

BackgroundThe Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Diseases (IMID) are a group of pathologies that have in common an altered immune system causing a chronic inflammatory process. IMIDs usually have a significant impairment of quality of life, including affective and sexual components.ObjectivesTo describe body self-esteem and sexual function in patients with IMIDs. Secondly, to compare outcomes between rheumatic IMIDs patients and those with other IMIDs.MethodsA cross-sectional comparative study was performed including 38 patients with rheumatic IMIDs (including rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis), compared to 34 patients with other IMIDs (psoriasis and inflammatory bowel disease). All participants fulfilled the Body Self-Esteem Scale (EAC) to measure body self-esteem, and also the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-15) for men, and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) for women.ResultsThe prevalence of sexual dysfunction in our study was 66.7%. A trend of greater impairment in sexual function was observed in women. There was a higher percentage of sexual dysfunction in the gastrointestinal IMIDs group (79.2%), compared to rheumatic diseases (60.5%) and dermatological diseases (60%), but no significant differences were found regarding the sexual dysfunction between groups (χ2 = 2.53, p = 0.28). Our results showed a significant inverse relationship between body self-esteem and sexual function (p = 0.012), i.e., the lower the body self-esteem, the higher the probability of presenting sexual dysfunction.ConclusionSexual function was impaired in all IMIDs. Body self-esteem problems were an important factor of sexual dysfunction in IMIDs. Healthcare professionals should be aware of these potential problems, promote self-care, and address sexual issues.