Sexual dysfunction in female hemodialysis patients: a multicenter study.
BACKGROUND
Sexual function is one aspect of physical functioning. Sexual dysfunction, no matter the etiology, could cause distress. In female hemodialysis patients, sexual problems have often been neglected in clinical performance and research.


METHODS
We conducted this study by use of self-reported questionnaires. A total of 578 female hemodialysis patients in northern Taiwan were included in this study. Demographic data, comorbid diseases, medications in use, biochemical, and hematologic parameters were analyzed. All patients were asked to complete by themselves three questionnaires: (1) the Index of Female Sexual Function (IFSF) to assess sexual function; (2) the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) (Chinese version) to rate the severity of depressive symptoms; and (3) the 36-item Short Form Health Survey Questionnaire (SF-36, Taiwan Standard Version 1.0) to survey their quality of life.


RESULTS
A total of 138 female patients were enrolled into further analysis. The mean age was 48.7 +/- 11.2 years old. The mean IFSF score was 24.5 +/- 9.3. Age, BDI score, and serum triglyceride levels were the independent factors of dysfunction in each sexual functional dimension. Patients with higher IFSF scores had significantly higher scores in physical functioning and mental health (P= 0.007 and 0.018, respectively). Patients with higher intercourse satisfaction had significantly higher general health scores (P= 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Sexual dysfunction is frequent in the female hemodialysis population. It is strongly associated with increasing age, dyslipidemia, and depression. The subjects with sexual dysfunction had poorer quality of life. The diagnosis and treatment of sexual dysfunction should be included in the clinical assessment.
Peng
Yu-Sen
YS
Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.
Chiang
Chih-Kang
CK
Kao
Tze-Wah
TW
Hung
Kung-Yu
KY
Lu
Chia-Sheng
CS
Chiang
Shou-Shang
SS
Yang
Chwei-Shiun
CS
Huang
Yu-Chin
YC
Wu
Kwan-Dun
KD
Wu
Ming-Shiou
MS
Lien
Yih-Ron
YR
Yang
Chin-Ching
CC
Tsai
Dong-Ming
DM
Chen
Pei-Yuan
PY
Liao
Cheng-Shiung
CS
Tsai
Tun-Jun
TJ
Chen
Wang-Yu
WY
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D016014:Linear Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires