Ragıp Ertaş1, Kemal Erol2, Tomasz Hawro3, Halim Yılmaz4, Marcus Maurer5. 1. Department of Dermatology, Kayseri City Education and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey. 2. Department of Rheumatology, Kayseri City Education and Research Hospital, Kayseri, Turkey. 3. Dermatological Allergology, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany. 4. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Health Science University, Konya, Turkey. 5. Dermatological Allergology, Department of Dermatology and Allergy, Charité - Universitätsmedizin, Berlin, Germany. Electronic address: marcus.maurer@charite.de.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is common, chronic, and debilitating, and has serious effects on quality of life and mental health. Three of 4 patients with CSU are women. The impact of CSU on female sexual functioning remains largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in female patients with CSU and to characterize their impairment of sexual functioning and its drivers. METHODS: Fifty-six female patients with CSU and 55 female aged-matched healthy control subjects were evaluated for sexual functioning with the Female Sexual Function Index. Patients were also assessed for their duration, activity, and control of disease, as well as angioedema, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and quality-of-life impairment. RESULTS: Sexual functioning, that is, total Female Sexual Function Index scores and all subscores, was markedly reduced in female patients with CSU versus control subjects, and 2 of 3 patients (67.9%) had sexual dysfunction. Impaired sexual functioning was linked to high disease activity and poor disease control. Sexual dysfunction was more common in patients with CSU with angioedema and vice versa. Angioedema was a significant predictor of sexual dysfunction in female patients with CSU (odds ratio, 7.3). Reduced sexual functioning was associated with anxiety, depression, and fatigue and significantly linked to impaired quality of life, more so in patients with angioedema as compared with those without. CONCLUSIONS: CSU has strong negative effects on female sexual function, especially in patients with angioedema. Additional studies on sexual health in patients with CSU are needed and should focus on the impact of effective treatment on sexual functioning.
BACKGROUND: Chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is common, chronic, and debilitating, and has serious effects on quality of life and mental health. Three of 4 patients with CSU are women. The impact of CSU on female sexual functioning remains largely unknown. OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in female patients with CSU and to characterize their impairment of sexual functioning and its drivers. METHODS: Fifty-six female patients with CSU and 55 female aged-matched healthy control subjects were evaluated for sexual functioning with the Female Sexual Function Index. Patients were also assessed for their duration, activity, and control of disease, as well as angioedema, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and quality-of-life impairment. RESULTS: Sexual functioning, that is, total Female Sexual Function Index scores and all subscores, was markedly reduced in female patients with CSU versus control subjects, and 2 of 3 patients (67.9%) had sexual dysfunction. Impaired sexual functioning was linked to high disease activity and poor disease control. Sexual dysfunction was more common in patients with CSU with angioedema and vice versa. Angioedema was a significant predictor of sexual dysfunction in female patients with CSU (odds ratio, 7.3). Reduced sexual functioning was associated with anxiety, depression, and fatigue and significantly linked to impaired quality of life, more so in patients with angioedema as compared with those without. CONCLUSIONS: CSU has strong negative effects on female sexual function, especially in patients with angioedema. Additional studies on sexual health in patients with CSU are needed and should focus on the impact of effective treatment on sexual functioning.
Authors: Pavel Kolkhir; Ana M Giménez-Arnau; Kanokvalai Kulthanan; Jonny Peter; Martin Metz; Marcus Maurer Journal: Nat Rev Dis Primers Date: 2022-09-15 Impact factor: 65.038
Authors: Huzeyfe Kulu; Mustafa Atasoy; Kemal Özyurt; Marcus Maurer; Atıl Avcı; Muhammet Reşat Akkuş; Ragıp Ertaş Journal: Front Immunol Date: 2021-10-11 Impact factor: 7.561
Authors: Ivan Cherrez-Ojeda; Emanuel Vanegas; Annia Cherrez; Miguel Felix; Karsten Weller; Markus Magerl; Rasmus Robin Maurer; Valeria L Mata; Alicja Kasperska-Zajac; Agnieszka Sikora; Daria Fomina; Elena Kovalkova; Kiran Godse; Nimmagadda Dheeraj Rao; Maryam Khoshkhui; Sahar Rastgoo; Roberta Fj Criado; Mohamed Abuzakouk; Deepa Grandon; Martijn B A Van Doorn; Solange Oliveira Rodrigues Valle; Eduardo Magalhães De Souza Lima; Simon Francis Thomsen; German D Ramón; Edgar E Matos Benavides; Andrea Bauer; Ana M Giménez-Arnau; Emek Kocatürk; Carole Guillet; Jose Ignacio Larco; Zuo-Tao Zhao; Michael Makris; Carla Ritchie; Paraskevi Xepapadaki; Luis Felipe Ensina; Sofia Cherrez; Marcus Maurer Journal: World Allergy Organ J Date: 2021-06-04 Impact factor: 4.084