Ethnic differences in dissatisfaction with sexual life in patients with type 2 diabetes in a Swedish town.
BACKGROUND
The first aim of this study was to analyze whether self-reported satisfaction with one's sexual life was associated with ethnicity (Swedish and Assyrian/Syrian) in patients with type 2 diabetes. The second was to study whether the association between satisfaction with one's sexual life and ethnicity remained after controlling for possible confounders such as marital status, HbA1c, medication, and presence of other diseases.


METHODS
This cross-sectional, questionnaire-based study was conducted at four primary health care centers in the Swedish town of Södertälje. A total of 354 persons (173 ethnic Assyrians/Syrians and 181 ethnic Swedes) participated.


RESULTS
The total prevalence of self-reported dissatisfaction with one's sexual life in both groups was 49%. No significant ethnic differences were found in the outcome. In the final model, regardless of ethnicity, the odds ratio (OR) for self-reported dissatisfaction with one's sexual life in those ≥ 70 years old was 2.52 (95% CI 1.33-4.80). Among those living alone or with children, the OR was more than three times higher than for married or cohabiting individuals (OR = 3.10, 95% CI 1.60-6.00). Those with other diseases had an OR 1.89 times (95% CI 1.10-3.40) higher than those without other diseases.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings demonstrate that almost half of participants were dissatisfied with their sexual life and highlight the importance of sexual life to people with type 2 diabetes. This factor should not be ignored in clinical evaluations. Moreover, the findings demonstrate that it is possible to include questions on sexual life in investigations of patients with type 2 diabetes and even in other health-related, questionnaire studies, despite the sensitivity of the issue of sexuality.
Taloyan
Marina
M
Center for Primary Health Care Research, Region Skåne, Lund University, Lund, Sweden. marina.taloyan@sll.se
Wajngot
Alexandre
A
Johansson
Sven-Erik
SE
Tovi
Jonas
J
Sundquist
Jan
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010361:Patients / Q000523:psychology*; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000208:ethnology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
J Rehabil Med. 2002 Sep;34(5):239-46
12392240
Int J Impot Res. 2010 May-Jun;22(3):179-84
20376056
J Sex Med. 2008 Feb;5(2):289-300
18004994
J Sex Med. 2004 Jul;1(1):35-9
16422981
Gend Med. 2008 Jun;5(2):162-80
18573483
J Urol. 2007 Apr;177(4):1438-42
17382749
Urology. 2003 Jan;61(1):201-6
12559296
Int J Impot Res. 2010 May-Jun;22(3):196-203
20090762
J Sex Med. 2007 Sep;4(5):1269-76
17635695
Reprod Biol Endocrinol. 2010 May 18;8:50
20482781
Drugs Aging. 2005;22(10):823-44
16245957
J Affect Disord. 2004 Oct 15;82(2):235-43
15488252
Diab Vasc Dis Res. 2009 Jan;6(1):38-9
19156627
J Sex Med. 2010 Apr;7(4 Pt 2):1627-56
20388162
Health Qual Life Outcomes. 2005 Apr 27;3:28
15857513
Urology. 1992 Aug;40(2):127-31
1502747
J Gend Specif Med. 2002 Nov-Dec;5(6):19-24
12503222
Diabetes Care. 2001 Aug;24(8):1384-9
11473074
Prim Care Diabetes. 2009 Feb;3(1):37-42
19269911
Urol Nurs. 2009 Jan-Feb;29(1):11-8, 29; quiz 19
19331270
J Sex Med. 2008 Oct;5(10):2300-11
18702640
Ann Clin Biochem. 1994 Jul;31 ( Pt 4):355-60
7979102
Int J Clin Pract. 2004 Apr;58(4):358-62
15161120
J Sex Med. 2010 Jun;7(6):2166-2173
19889149
J Sex Med. 2007 Mar;4(2):311-21
17040486
Midwifery. 2005 Mar;21(1):44-60
15740816
Diabetes Care. 2002 Feb;25(2):284-91
11815497
Wien Klin Wochenschr. 2003 Dec 15;115(23):822-30
14740345