Sexual dysfunction in arterial hypertension women: The role of depression and anxiety.
BACKGROUND
Although high blood pressure is known to be associated with sexual dysfunction, this phenomenon has been little studied in females and has received little intervention in clinical practice.


OBJECTIVE
To identify the presence of sexual dysfunction, considering the different possible domains and to evaluate its relationship with the presence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in women with arterial hypertension.


METHODS
One hundred fifty seven women (from 56.4 years) with a diagnosis of arterial hypertension were evaluated with media through the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS).


RESULTS
High rates of sexual dysfunction were detected in the women evaluated, and this dysfunction was in all domains as follows: desire (68.2%), excitement (68.2%), lubrication (41.1%), orgasm (55.4%), satisfaction (66.42%) and pain (56.1%). Elevated rates of symptoms of anxiety (43.3%) and depression (26.8%) were also found in our sample. Nevertheless, in the present study, such symptoms showed no relationship with sexual dysfunction levels for any of the domains assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
Hypertensive patients exhibit an elevated presence of sexual dysfunction, as well as anxious and depressive symptoms. Although the literature on female sexuality indicates influences of these symptoms on sexual functions, this study did not identify such a relationship in the studied population. Sexuality is an important element in patient quality of life, and a broad understanding of female sexual function is fundamental for good follow-up in these patients.
Laboratory of Panic and Respiration - Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: bete_nascimentopsi@ig.com.br.
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Nascimento
Laboratory of Panic and Respiration - Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Electronic address: acornelas@mvmaia.com.br.
A C O
AC
Maia
Laboratory of Panic and Respiration - Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; National Institute for Science and Technology - Translational Medicine, Brazil. Electronic address: antonioenardi@gmail.com.
A E
AE
Nardi
Laboratory of Panic and Respiration - Institute of Psychiatry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; National Institute for Science and Technology - Translational Medicine, Brazil. Electronic address: adrianacardosorj@yahoo.com.br.
A C
AC
Silva
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001007:Anxiety / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*
Anxiety; Depression; Female sexual dysfunction