Sexual Quality of Life in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Multicenter, National-Level Study

Abstract

Background The impact of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) on sexual health is a leading concern among patients. Most studies focus on sexual dysfunction rather than patient-perceived sexual quality of life (SQoL). We aimed to assess SQoL in IBD patients compared with healthy controls. Methods This is a multicenter, cross-sectional study of IBD patients (n = 575 with Crohn’s disease and n = 294 with ulcerative colitis), compared with healthy controls (n = 398), that used an anonymous self-administered questionnaire. This multimodal questionnaire included sociodemographic data and 4 validated instruments: Short IBD Questionnaire, Social Desirability Scale, Sexual QoL Questionnaire–Male/Female, Nine-item Patient Health Questionnaire. Results Inflammatory bowel disease patients reported lower SQoL (men: 77.29 vs 83.83; P < 0.001; women: 70.40 vs 81.63; P < 0.001) compared with controls. Among IBD patients, SQoL was positively correlated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and negatively correlated with depression symptoms. Perianal disease was associated with lower HRQoL and higher incidence of depression, but only impacted SQoL in men. In linear regression analysis for men, SQoL was associated with age, marital status, and depression (β, –2.101; 95% confidence interval [CI], –2.505 to –1.696; P < 0.001). In women, SQoL was associated with depression (β, –1.973; 95% CI, –2.313 to –1.632; P < 0.001) only. Conclusions Patients with IBD had impaired SQoL compared with healthy controls. Age, widow status, and depression were independent predictors of SQoL in men with IBD, whereas in women depression was the only independent predictor. Emotional and self-esteem issues were the main concerns reported by IBD patients regarding sexual health.

Prevalence, predictors and age‐related sexual and erectile dysfunction in patients with inflammatory bowel disease: A tertiary centre experience

“…Furthermore, the same study reported depression and previous surgery as significant predictors of ED in men and depression and anemia as significant SD predictors in men 9 . Roseira et al performed a multicentre cross‐sectional study of IBD patients in Portugal and have found age, widow status and depression to be independent predictors of sexual QOL in men and depression as only independent predictor in women 23 . Results from our study were partly in line showing also depression as significant ED and SD predictor in men, and additionally in multivariate analysis we have revealed several male ED predictors (emotional and systemic IBDQ domain) and male SD predictors (emotional IBDQ domain, disease duration and UC phenotype).…”

Family planning with inflammatory bowel disease: the challenge of childlessness and parent concerns

“…However, only a few modifiable factors affecting FPP decision-making in patients with IBD can be identified; these are mostly related to the mode of the patients' access to FPP-related information. Some IBD-related issues (impaired body image, sexuality, partnership) might be modifiable through psychological interventions [26][27][28].…”

Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Social Impacts and Quality of Life: A Literature Review

“…The main predictor of reduced quality of life associated with sexual health was depression, demonstrating that the main concerns of IBD patients in this area of life are related to emotional and self-esteem issues closely associated with body image. 16 Individuals with IBD report significant concerns, which should be considered in the holistic model of care because they influence the disease selfmanagement and thus health outcomes. The main concerns were related to loss of bowel control, the risk of developing cancer, the association between stress and illness, the chronicity of the disease, and fatigue.…”