FRI0439 PERCEIVED INFLUENCE OF HEALTH STATUS ON SEXUAL ACTIVITY IN PATIENTS WITH PSORIATIC ARTHRITIS IS ASSOCIATED WITH MUSCULOSKELETAL MANIFESTATIONS BUT NOT WITH PSORIASIS SKIN MANIFESTATIONS
Authors: Glenn Haugeberg, Brigitte Michelsen, Arthur Kavanaugh
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2019)

<h3>Background</h3> Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a heterogeneous disease involving multiple domains including the musculoskeletal system and the skin. The disease may have a significant impact on various aspects of quality of life including sexuality. <h3>Objectives</h3> To explore the prevalence of self-reported problems with sexual activity in patients with PsA, and any associations with demographic and disease related variables as well as treatment. <h3>Methods</h3> PsA patients were consecutively recruited from a Norwegian rheumatology outpatient clinic. Data collection included information on demographics, measures of PsA disease activity (both skin and musculoskeletal manifestations), patient reported outcome measures and treatment. The perceived effect of health status on sexual activity was assessed using question 15 in the Health Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) instrument 15D. The question reads: My state of health: 1. Has no adverse effect on my sexual activity. 2. Has a slight effect on my sexual activity. 3. Has a considerable effect on my sexual activity. 4. Makes sexual activity almost impossible. 5. Makes sexual activity impossible. For analytical purposes the answers were dichotomized into "no/little negative effect" (answers 1 and 2) and "large negative effect" (answers 3-5). For group comparisons we used Chi-square test for categorical variables and student t-test for continuous variables. Adjusted logistic regression models were also applied. <h3>Results</h3> Among the 135 PsA patients assessed mean (SD) age was 52.1 (10.2) years and 51.1% were men. The majority of patients (111 patients, 82.2%) reported their state of health to have no/little effect on their sexual activity and 24 patients (17.8%) reported their state of health to have large negative effect on their sexual activity. Patients with a large negative effect of their health status on sexual activity had significantly longer disease duration as well as higher DAPSA, MASES and fatigue score compared with the patients reporting no/little impact of their health status on sexual activity (table). In adjusted logistic regression models with disease duration, DAPSA, MASES and fatigue in the model, only disease duration and MASES were independently associated with a large negative effect on sexual activity, this also when adjusting for age and sex. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Approximately 20% of the PsA patients reported their health status to have a large negative effect on their sexual activity. Only disease duration and measures reflecting musculoskeletal disease were found to have a negative effect on sexual activity among PsA patients; skin psoriasis did not have an impact. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> Glenn Haugeberg Grant/research support from: For this study grant from Biogen, Consultant for: Medical Advisory boards for several companies, Paid instructor for: I have been paid for giving lectures for pharmaceutical companies and their employees, Speakers bureau: I have been paid for giving lectures in meetings organized by pharmaceutical companies, Brigitte Michelsen: None declared, Arthur Kavanaugh Grant/research support from: UCB Pharma