Abstract
Purpose
Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common but often overlooked and undertreated symptom
in multiple sclerosis (MS). The purpose of our longitudinal study was to explore the
changes in the level of sexual functioning in MS cohort after a period of 3 and 6 years of follow-up, as well as to investigate the predictors of changes in SD during
the period of observation.
Methods
The study population comprise a cohort of 93 patients with MS (McDonald's criteria,
2001) who were assessed at three time points during the study (baseline, and at the
3- and 6-year follow-up). The presence and severity of SD was quantified by Szasz
sexual functioning scale. Independent predictors of the ordinal-scaled measure of
sexual problems were identified using a generalized linear mixed regression models.
Results
The number of reported SD symptoms increased markedly for both genders during the
whole period of observation. Duration of follow-up, age, level of physical disability,
depression and fatigue were identified as independent prognostic factors for deterioration
of sexual functioning in patients with MS during the 6-year follow-up.
Conclusion
Our study provides insight into dynamics of change in sexual function among patients
with MS and predictors of change, over the period of 6 years.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 10, 2015
Accepted:
September 9,
2015
Received in revised form:
August 22,
2015
Received:
March 5,
2015
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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Access this article on ScienceDirectLinked Article
- Corrigendum to “Sexual dysfunction in multiple sclerosis: A 6-year follow-up study” [J. Neurol. Sci. 358 (2015) 317–323]Journal of the Neurological SciencesVol. 372
