POS1481-HPR SEXUAL EXPERIENCE IN MALE PATIENTS WITH ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS: RESULTS FROM A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF 113 PATIENTS
Authors: L. Hu, D. Gao, Y. MA, Y. Wang, X. Ji, F. Huang
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2021)

Background: The expression and experience of sexuality is a key part of an individual self-identity 1 , so it is essential for both healthy individuals and patients. Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) may be susceptible to sexual issues due to disease activity, dysfunction and comorbid emotional problems. However, sexuality, especially sexual experience, are rarely paid attention in patients with AS. Objectives: Our study aims to assess sexual experience in male patients with AS, and analyze the factors affecting sexual experience. Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. A total of 113 patients with AS and 46 healthy people were investigated, matched according to age and body mass index. The Sexual Experience Questionnaire is used to assess male sexual experience. Linear regression analysis is used to explore the contributions of clinical variables to worse sexual experience. Results: There is a significant difference in the total sexual experience score between AS patients and healthy controls (41.92±8.83 vs 46.98±8.10, P =0.0013). Also, patients with AS have a worse score in all dimensions of sexual experience, including erectile function, individual satisfaction and couple satisfaction, comparing to healthy people. In the regression model after controlling for the effects of age, disease duration and body mass index, disease activity (BASDAI), function (BASFI), mobility (BASMI, chest expansion and finger-floor distance), health index (ASAS HI), sleep quality (PSQI) and psychological status (HADS, HADS-A and HADS-D) are significant determinants of sexual experience, including erectile function (except for chest expansion), individual satisfaction (except for BASMI) and couple satisfaction (except for BASMI). See Table 1 for details. Table 1. Multivariable regression analysis of association between sexual experience and clinical outcomes Independent Sexual experience total score Erectile function Individual satisfaction Couple satisfaction β (95%CI) P β (95%CI) P β (95%CI) P β (95%CI) P Pain total -0.09 (-0.25, 0.07) 0.28 -0.27 (-0.58, 0.03) 0.073 -0.51 (-0.91, -0.10 0.014 -0.15 (-0.32, 0.02) 0.077 BASDAI 1.35 (-2.24, -0.45) 0.003 -0.42 (-0.75, -0.09) 0.014 -0.72 (-1.16, -0.28) 0.001 -0.21 (-0.40, -0.02) 0.028 BASFI -1.80 (-2.59, -1.01) &lt;0.001 -0.62 (-0.91, -0.32) &lt;0.001 -0.89 (-1.28, -0.50) &lt;0.001 -0.30 (-0.47, -0.13) 0.001 BASMI -1.04 (-2.01, -0.07) 0.036 -0.47 (-0.82, -0.12) 0.008 -0.48 (-0.96, 0.001) 0.051 -0.09 (-0.29, 0.12) 0.413 Chest expansion 1.60 (0.24, 2.96) 0.021 0.50 (-0.004, 0.99) 0.052 0.74 (0.07, 1.42) 0.032 0.36 (0.08, 0.64) 0.011 Finger-floor distance -0.20 (-0.33, -0.07) 0.003 -0.07 (-0.11, -0.02) 0.009 -0.10 (-0.17, -0.03) 0.003 -0.04 (-0.06, -0.01) 0.011 ASAS HI -1.27 (-1.64, -0.91) &lt;0.001 -0.42 (-0.55, -0.28) &lt;0.001 -0.62 (-0.80, -0.43) &lt;0.001 -0.24 (-0.32, -0.16) &lt;0.001 PSQI -0.60 (-1.11, -0.09) 0.021 -0.19 (-0.38, -0.004) 0.045 -0.28 (-0.54, -0.03) 0.03 -0.13 (-0.23, -0.02) 0.019 HADS -0.53 (-0.76, -0.29) &lt;0.001 -0.18 (-0.27, -0.09) &lt;0.001 -0.24 (-0.36, -0.13) &lt;0.001 -0.10 (-0.15, -0.05) &lt;0.001 HADS-A -0.86 (-1.30, -0.42) &lt;0.001 -0.28 (-0.44, -0.12) 0.001 -0.42 (-0.63, -0.20) &lt;0.001 -0.17 (-0.26, -0.07) &lt;0.001 HADS-D -0.99 (-1.45, -0.53) &lt;0.001 -0.35 (-0.52, -0.19) &lt;0.001 -0.44 (-0.67, -0.21) &lt;0.001 -0.20 (-0.29, -0.10) &lt;0.001 Conclusion: Worse sexual experience is associated with increased disease activity, decreased function, poor mobility, decreased health index, poor sleep quality and psychological status. Therefore, special attention to worse sexual experience in patients with AS is essential to assess disease-related suffering and develop new patient management strategies. References: [1]Hill J, Bird H, Thorpe R. Effects of rheumatoid arthritis on sexual activity and relationships. Rheumatology (Oxford), 2003. 42(2):280-6. Disclosure of Interests: None declared