Max Somer
E096 Sexual function in axial spondyloarthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Somer, Max; Battista, Simone; Grange, Jake; Prior, Yeliz; Parsons, Helen; Packham, Jon; Haywood, Kirstie; Prior, James
Authors
Dr Simone Battista S.Battista@salford.ac.uk
Research Fellow
Jake Grange
Prof Yeliz Prior Y.Prior@salford.ac.uk
Professor of Clinical Rehabilitation
Helen Parsons
Jon Packham
Kirstie Haywood
James Prior
Abstract
Background/Aims Sexual function is crucial for fostering intimate relationships and enhancing quality of life. The impact of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) on sexual function remains unclear despite existing research, which has typically focused on men. This systematic review examines the role of axSpA on sexual function in both genders and explores whether features of axSpA, such as disease activity, have a role. Methods The medical literature databases PsycINFO, CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central were searched from inception to February 2024, focusing on adults diagnosed with axSpA. Measures of sexual function, assessed through established patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) and other methods, were extracted along with disease activity, laboratory, and demographic data. Narrative synthesis of included studies was followed by the pooling of a subset of studies using random-effects meta-analysis. Results Initially, 325 records were identified across the five databases. The review ultimately included 37 studies: 22 case-control, 14 cross-sectional, and one cohort, all conducted between 1983 and 2023, spanning 14 countries. Most reports originated from Turkey (n = 15), while three were from the UK. Nineteen studies focused on men, 13 included both sexes, four examined women only, and one did not report the gender ratio. Various sexual function measures were used, with the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) being the most common PROMs for men and women, respectively. Eleven studies assessed the impact of axSpA on male sexual function using the IIEF. Seven reports compared men with axSpA to healthy controls, with five reporting significant differences. When pooled (n = 4), all IIEF domain scores, except sexual desire, were significantly lower in those with axSpA. The pooled mean difference in erectile function was -3.46 (95% CI: -4.54 to -2.38), although this small degree of change is unlikely to reflect symptoms clinically important to patients. Four studies examined the effect of axSpA on female sexual function using the FSFI. Three compared women with axSpA to controls, with two reporting significant differences in total FSFI scores. Moreover, domain scores for sexual arousal and lubrication were significantly lower in women with axSpA. However, meta-analysis revealed no significant difference in total scores between cases and controls (mean difference: -4.55, 95% CI: -9.82 to 0.73). Conclusion Men with axSpA show statistically higher rates of sexual dysfunction compared to controls, although the effects appear small, with minimal clinical impact. Research on the impact of axSpA on women’s sexual function is scarce and inconsistent, with available evidence indicating minimal overall contribution. Further studies, especially in the UK and using established PROMs, are needed to clarify the role of axSpA in sexual health. Disclosure M. Somer: None. S. Battista: None. J. Grange: None. Y. Prior: None. H. Parsons: None. J. Packham: None. K. Haywood: None. J. Prior: None.
Presentation Conference Type | Conference Abstract |
---|---|
Conference Name | British Society for Rheumatology |
Start Date | Apr 28, 2025 |
End Date | Apr 30, 2025 |
Acceptance Date | Apr 1, 2025 |
Online Publication Date | Apr 28, 2025 |
Publication Date | Apr 1, 2025 |
Deposit Date | Jun 23, 2025 |
Journal | Rheumatology |
Print ISSN | 1462-0324 |
Electronic ISSN | 1462-0332 |
Publisher | Oxford University Press |
Peer Reviewed | Peer Reviewed |
Volume | 64 |
Issue | Supplement_3 |
DOI | https://doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keaf142.331 |
You might also like
The Use of Digital Technologies in Physiotherapy Higher Education: a Mixed-Methods Study.
(2025)
Journal Article
Downloadable Citations
About USIR
Administrator e-mail: library-research@salford.ac.uk
This application uses the following open-source libraries:
SheetJS Community Edition
Apache License Version 2.0 (http://www.apache.org/licenses/)
PDF.js
Apache License Version 2.0 (http://www.apache.org/licenses/)
Font Awesome
SIL OFL 1.1 (http://scripts.sil.org/OFL)
MIT License (http://opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.html)
CC BY 3.0 ( http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/)
Powered by Worktribe © 2025
Advanced Search