Reviewer ’s report  
 
Title: Factors associated with sexual dysfunction in Taiwanese females with rheumatoid arthritis  
 
Version: 0 Date: 25 Mar 2016 
 
Reviewer:  Johanna L.  Hannan  
 
Reviewer’s report:  
 
This is an  interesting and well -written study examining the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in a 
population of Taiwanese women suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. Authors have looked at 196 
women with RA and determined that 66.8% suffer from FSD with correlations or predictors with 
co-morbidities, age, menopausal status, depression, duration of RA and pain. This study is the 
first to assess FSD in this patient population in Taiwan and gives a good baseline for future 
studies and therapies for women with RA.  
 
 
Major  Comments:  
 
1.  My biggest concern is that none of the FSD is presented in this manuscript.  Please include 
the FSD scores and the breakdown of the different domain scores.  It would be of interest to see 
if the patients with RA are suffering more for desire or arousa l disorders vs pain or orgasmic 
disorders.  This information is critical to this study.   
 
2.  Additionally, are there any studies assessing FSD in non -RA Taiwanese women?  It is 
difficult to see if the prevalence of FSD differs from a similarly aged group of women not 
suffering from RA.  
 
3..  What type of DMARD were the women taking? Could any of these be contributing adverse 
side affects on sexual function?  
 
4.  Was any sort of distress scale used to determine if the FSD these women were suffering from 
caused personal distress?  Depression scale is something independent that can lead to FSD but 
will not determine the distress the FSD is causing the patient.  This is important to determine if 
the FSD or the RA symptoms are contributing to the patient's depres sion.  
 
5.  Please define in your methods how the menopausal status was assessed.  Does menopausal 
mean that they are still menstruating or they have stopped.  Please clarify.   
 
6.  Although there were correlations with FSD and TDQ score, it did not seem to  be that high in 
these women (12.28...max is 54?).  Please comment on what a DAS28 score of 3.77 
means....what is the scale for this assessment and is this score high or low?  
 
Are the methods appropriate and well described?  
If not, please specify what is required in your comments to the authors.  
Yes 
 
Does the work include the necessary controls?  
If not, please specify which controls are required in your comments to the authors.  
 
No 
 
Are the conclusions drawn adequately supported by the data shown?  
If not, please explain in your comments to the authors.  
 
Yes 
 
Are you able to assess any statistics in the manuscript or would you recommend an 
additional statistical review?  
If an  additional statistical review is recommended, please specify what aspects require further 
assessment in your comments to the editors.  
 
I am able to assess the statistics  
 
Quality of written English  
Please indicate the quality of language in the manuscript:  
 
Acceptable  
 
Declaration of competing interests  
Please complete a declaration of competing interests, considering the following questions:  
 
1. Have you in the past five years received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an 
organisation  that may in any way gain or lose financially from the publication of this 
manuscript, either now or in the future?  
 
2. Do you hold any stocks or shares in an organisation that may in any way gain or lose 
financially from the publication of this manuscript, e ither now or in the future?  
 
3. Do you hold or are you currently applying for any patents relating to the content of the 
manuscript?  
 
4. Have you received reimbursements, fees, funding, or salary from an organization that 
holds or has applied for patents relatin g to the content of the manuscript?  
 
5. Do you have any other financial competing interests?  
 
6. Do you have any non -financial competing interests in relation to this paper?  
 
If you can answer no to all of the  above, write 'I declare that I have no competing interests' 
below. If your reply is yes to any, please give details below.  
I declare that I have no compet ing interests.  
 
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