Skip to main content

Main menu

  • Home
  • Content
    • First Release
    • Current
    • Archives
    • Collections
    • AV Rheum
    • Forum
  • Resources
    • Guide for Authors
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Author Payment
    • Reviewers
    • Advertisers
    • Classified Ads
    • Reprints and Translations
    • Permissions
    • Meetings
    • FAQ
    • Policies
  • Subscribers
    • Subscription Information
    • Purchase Subscription
    • Your Account
    • Terms and Conditions
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Duncan A. Gordon Award
    • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • JRheum Supplements
  • Publisher Services

User menu

  • My Cart
  • Log In

Search

  • Advanced search
The Journal of Rheumatology
  • JRheum Supplements
  • Publisher Services
  • My Cart
  • Log In
The Journal of Rheumatology

Advanced Search

  • Home
  • Content
    • First Release
    • Current
    • Archives
    • Collections
    • AV Rheum
    • Forum
  • Resources
    • Guide for Authors
    • Submit Manuscript
    • Author Payment
    • Reviewers
    • Advertisers
    • Classified Ads
    • Reprints and Translations
    • Permissions
    • Meetings
    • FAQ
    • Policies
  • Subscribers
    • Subscription Information
    • Purchase Subscription
    • Your Account
    • Terms and Conditions
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Editorial Board
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Duncan A. Gordon Award
    • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • Follow jrheum on Twitter
  • Visit jrheum on Facebook
  • Follow jrheum on LinkedIn
  • Follow jrheum on RSS
Research ArticleArticle

High Burden of Sexual Dysfunction in Female Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results of a Cross-sectional Study

Rudolf Puchner, Judith Sautner, Johann Gruber, Elia Bragagna, Andrea Trenkler, Gertraud Lang, Gabriele Eberl, Alois Alkin and Herwig Pieringer
The Journal of Rheumatology September 2018, jrheum.171287; DOI: https://doi.org/10.3899/jrheum.171287
Rudolf Puchner
From Private Practice, Wels; Private Practice, Stockerau; Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck; Specialist in Sexual Medicine, Private Practice, Vienna; Elisabethinen Hospital, Linz; Centre of Excellence in Medicine, Linz; Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, Linz; State Hospital Freistadt, Freistadt; Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff, Bad Deutsch Altenburg; Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. This work was supported by an unrestricted industrial grant from Pfizer Austria [grant number WI205954]. R. Puchner, MD, MSc, MBA, Rheumatology Private Practice, Wels; J. Sautner, MD, Rheumatology Private Practice, Stockerau; J. Gruber, MD, PhD, Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck; E. Bragagna, MD, Private Practice in Sexual Medicine, Vienna; A. Trenkler, MD, Elisabethinen Hospital; G. Lang, MD, State Hospital Freistadt; G. Eberl, MD, Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff; A. Alkin, BSc, Centre of Excellence in Medicine; H. Pieringer, MD, MBA, Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, and Paracelsus Private Medical University. Address correspondence to Dr. R. Puchner, Freiung 19, 4600 Wels, Austria. E-mail: Rudolf.puchner@cc-net.at. Accepted for publication June 14, 2018.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Judith Sautner
From Private Practice, Wels; Private Practice, Stockerau; Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck; Specialist in Sexual Medicine, Private Practice, Vienna; Elisabethinen Hospital, Linz; Centre of Excellence in Medicine, Linz; Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, Linz; State Hospital Freistadt, Freistadt; Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff, Bad Deutsch Altenburg; Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. This work was supported by an unrestricted industrial grant from Pfizer Austria [grant number WI205954]. R. Puchner, MD, MSc, MBA, Rheumatology Private Practice, Wels; J. Sautner, MD, Rheumatology Private Practice, Stockerau; J. Gruber, MD, PhD, Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck; E. Bragagna, MD, Private Practice in Sexual Medicine, Vienna; A. Trenkler, MD, Elisabethinen Hospital; G. Lang, MD, State Hospital Freistadt; G. Eberl, MD, Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff; A. Alkin, BSc, Centre of Excellence in Medicine; H. Pieringer, MD, MBA, Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, and Paracelsus Private Medical University. Address correspondence to Dr. R. Puchner, Freiung 19, 4600 Wels, Austria. E-mail: Rudolf.puchner@cc-net.at. Accepted for publication June 14, 2018.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Johann Gruber
From Private Practice, Wels; Private Practice, Stockerau; Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck; Specialist in Sexual Medicine, Private Practice, Vienna; Elisabethinen Hospital, Linz; Centre of Excellence in Medicine, Linz; Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, Linz; State Hospital Freistadt, Freistadt; Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff, Bad Deutsch Altenburg; Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. This work was supported by an unrestricted industrial grant from Pfizer Austria [grant number WI205954]. R. Puchner, MD, MSc, MBA, Rheumatology Private Practice, Wels; J. Sautner, MD, Rheumatology Private Practice, Stockerau; J. Gruber, MD, PhD, Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck; E. Bragagna, MD, Private Practice in Sexual Medicine, Vienna; A. Trenkler, MD, Elisabethinen Hospital; G. Lang, MD, State Hospital Freistadt; G. Eberl, MD, Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff; A. Alkin, BSc, Centre of Excellence in Medicine; H. Pieringer, MD, MBA, Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, and Paracelsus Private Medical University. Address correspondence to Dr. R. Puchner, Freiung 19, 4600 Wels, Austria. E-mail: Rudolf.puchner@cc-net.at. Accepted for publication June 14, 2018.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Elia Bragagna
From Private Practice, Wels; Private Practice, Stockerau; Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck; Specialist in Sexual Medicine, Private Practice, Vienna; Elisabethinen Hospital, Linz; Centre of Excellence in Medicine, Linz; Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, Linz; State Hospital Freistadt, Freistadt; Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff, Bad Deutsch Altenburg; Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. This work was supported by an unrestricted industrial grant from Pfizer Austria [grant number WI205954]. R. Puchner, MD, MSc, MBA, Rheumatology Private Practice, Wels; J. Sautner, MD, Rheumatology Private Practice, Stockerau; J. Gruber, MD, PhD, Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck; E. Bragagna, MD, Private Practice in Sexual Medicine, Vienna; A. Trenkler, MD, Elisabethinen Hospital; G. Lang, MD, State Hospital Freistadt; G. Eberl, MD, Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff; A. Alkin, BSc, Centre of Excellence in Medicine; H. Pieringer, MD, MBA, Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, and Paracelsus Private Medical University. Address correspondence to Dr. R. Puchner, Freiung 19, 4600 Wels, Austria. E-mail: Rudolf.puchner@cc-net.at. Accepted for publication June 14, 2018.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Andrea Trenkler
From Private Practice, Wels; Private Practice, Stockerau; Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck; Specialist in Sexual Medicine, Private Practice, Vienna; Elisabethinen Hospital, Linz; Centre of Excellence in Medicine, Linz; Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, Linz; State Hospital Freistadt, Freistadt; Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff, Bad Deutsch Altenburg; Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. This work was supported by an unrestricted industrial grant from Pfizer Austria [grant number WI205954]. R. Puchner, MD, MSc, MBA, Rheumatology Private Practice, Wels; J. Sautner, MD, Rheumatology Private Practice, Stockerau; J. Gruber, MD, PhD, Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck; E. Bragagna, MD, Private Practice in Sexual Medicine, Vienna; A. Trenkler, MD, Elisabethinen Hospital; G. Lang, MD, State Hospital Freistadt; G. Eberl, MD, Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff; A. Alkin, BSc, Centre of Excellence in Medicine; H. Pieringer, MD, MBA, Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, and Paracelsus Private Medical University. Address correspondence to Dr. R. Puchner, Freiung 19, 4600 Wels, Austria. E-mail: Rudolf.puchner@cc-net.at. Accepted for publication June 14, 2018.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Gertraud Lang
From Private Practice, Wels; Private Practice, Stockerau; Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck; Specialist in Sexual Medicine, Private Practice, Vienna; Elisabethinen Hospital, Linz; Centre of Excellence in Medicine, Linz; Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, Linz; State Hospital Freistadt, Freistadt; Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff, Bad Deutsch Altenburg; Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. This work was supported by an unrestricted industrial grant from Pfizer Austria [grant number WI205954]. R. Puchner, MD, MSc, MBA, Rheumatology Private Practice, Wels; J. Sautner, MD, Rheumatology Private Practice, Stockerau; J. Gruber, MD, PhD, Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck; E. Bragagna, MD, Private Practice in Sexual Medicine, Vienna; A. Trenkler, MD, Elisabethinen Hospital; G. Lang, MD, State Hospital Freistadt; G. Eberl, MD, Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff; A. Alkin, BSc, Centre of Excellence in Medicine; H. Pieringer, MD, MBA, Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, and Paracelsus Private Medical University. Address correspondence to Dr. R. Puchner, Freiung 19, 4600 Wels, Austria. E-mail: Rudolf.puchner@cc-net.at. Accepted for publication June 14, 2018.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Gabriele Eberl
From Private Practice, Wels; Private Practice, Stockerau; Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck; Specialist in Sexual Medicine, Private Practice, Vienna; Elisabethinen Hospital, Linz; Centre of Excellence in Medicine, Linz; Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, Linz; State Hospital Freistadt, Freistadt; Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff, Bad Deutsch Altenburg; Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. This work was supported by an unrestricted industrial grant from Pfizer Austria [grant number WI205954]. R. Puchner, MD, MSc, MBA, Rheumatology Private Practice, Wels; J. Sautner, MD, Rheumatology Private Practice, Stockerau; J. Gruber, MD, PhD, Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck; E. Bragagna, MD, Private Practice in Sexual Medicine, Vienna; A. Trenkler, MD, Elisabethinen Hospital; G. Lang, MD, State Hospital Freistadt; G. Eberl, MD, Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff; A. Alkin, BSc, Centre of Excellence in Medicine; H. Pieringer, MD, MBA, Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, and Paracelsus Private Medical University. Address correspondence to Dr. R. Puchner, Freiung 19, 4600 Wels, Austria. E-mail: Rudolf.puchner@cc-net.at. Accepted for publication June 14, 2018.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Alois Alkin
From Private Practice, Wels; Private Practice, Stockerau; Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck; Specialist in Sexual Medicine, Private Practice, Vienna; Elisabethinen Hospital, Linz; Centre of Excellence in Medicine, Linz; Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, Linz; State Hospital Freistadt, Freistadt; Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff, Bad Deutsch Altenburg; Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. This work was supported by an unrestricted industrial grant from Pfizer Austria [grant number WI205954]. R. Puchner, MD, MSc, MBA, Rheumatology Private Practice, Wels; J. Sautner, MD, Rheumatology Private Practice, Stockerau; J. Gruber, MD, PhD, Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck; E. Bragagna, MD, Private Practice in Sexual Medicine, Vienna; A. Trenkler, MD, Elisabethinen Hospital; G. Lang, MD, State Hospital Freistadt; G. Eberl, MD, Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff; A. Alkin, BSc, Centre of Excellence in Medicine; H. Pieringer, MD, MBA, Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, and Paracelsus Private Medical University. Address correspondence to Dr. R. Puchner, Freiung 19, 4600 Wels, Austria. E-mail: Rudolf.puchner@cc-net.at. Accepted for publication June 14, 2018.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Herwig Pieringer
From Private Practice, Wels; Private Practice, Stockerau; Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck; Specialist in Sexual Medicine, Private Practice, Vienna; Elisabethinen Hospital, Linz; Centre of Excellence in Medicine, Linz; Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, Linz; State Hospital Freistadt, Freistadt; Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff, Bad Deutsch Altenburg; Paracelsus Private Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. This work was supported by an unrestricted industrial grant from Pfizer Austria [grant number WI205954]. R. Puchner, MD, MSc, MBA, Rheumatology Private Practice, Wels; J. Sautner, MD, Rheumatology Private Practice, Stockerau; J. Gruber, MD, PhD, Internal Medicine VI, Medical University of Innsbruck; E. Bragagna, MD, Private Practice in Sexual Medicine, Vienna; A. Trenkler, MD, Elisabethinen Hospital; G. Lang, MD, State Hospital Freistadt; G. Eberl, MD, Kurzentrum Ludwigstorff; A. Alkin, BSc, Centre of Excellence in Medicine; H. Pieringer, MD, MBA, Academic Research Unit, 2nd Department of Internal Medicine, Kepler University Hospital, and Paracelsus Private Medical University. Address correspondence to Dr. R. Puchner, Freiung 19, 4600 Wels, Austria. E-mail: Rudolf.puchner@cc-net.at. Accepted for publication June 14, 2018.
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Supplemental
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
  • eLetters
Next
Loading

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effect of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) on impairing women’s sexuality regarding motivation, activity, and satisfaction, and to assess the correlation of disease-related physical impairment within sexual functioning.

Methods An anonymous survey among women with RA and healthy controls (HC) using standardized questionnaires, predominantly the Changes in Sexual Functioning Questionnaire-short form (CSFQ-14). In addition, disease activity, depression, and disability were evaluated.

Results There were 319 questionnaires distributed to patients and 306 to HC. Of these, 235 patient questionnaires (73.7%) and 180 HC questionnaires (58.8%) were returned, of which 203 and 169 were completed, respectively. Of the patients with RA, 47.8% had a total CSFQ-14 score of ≤ 41, indicating female sexual dysfunction (FSD), as compared to 14.2% of HC (p < 0.0001). The median CSFQ-14 score was lower in patients with RA [42 points, interquartile range (IQR) 36–48] than in HC (49 points, IQR 44–54; p < 0.0001), resulting in an OR of 5.53 (95% CI 3.19–9.57; p < 0.0001). After adjustment for confounders, given a higher mean age of patients (55.2 ± 11.3 yrs) than HC (47.4 ± 11.8 yrs; p < 0.0001), the OR for FSD in patients with RA was still 3.04 (95% CI 1.61–5.75; p = 0.001). Neither the Health Assessment Questionnaire–Disability Index nor the Clinical Disease Activity Index was associated with FSD after adjustment.

Conclusion FSD apparently is highly prevalent in female patients with RA, affects all subdomains of sexual function, and is most likely underestimated in daily clinical practice. Of note, FSD could not be linked to disability or RA disease activity.

Log in using your username and password

Forgot your user name or password?

Purchase access

You may purchase access to this article. This will require you to create an account if you don't already have one.
Next
Back to top

In this issue

The Journal of Rheumatology
Vol. 46, Issue 2
1 Feb 2019
  • Table of Contents
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Index by Author
  • Editorial Board (PDF)
Download PDF
Article Alerts
Sign In to Email Alerts with your Email Address
Email Article

Thank you for your interest in spreading the word about The Journal of Rheumatology.

NOTE: We only request your email address so that the person you are recommending the page to knows that you wanted them to see it, and that it is not junk mail. We do not capture any email address.

Enter multiple addresses on separate lines or separate them with commas.
High Burden of Sexual Dysfunction in Female Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results of a Cross-sectional Study
(Your Name) has forwarded a page to you from The Journal of Rheumatology
(Your Name) thought you would like to see this page from the The Journal of Rheumatology web site.
Citation Tools
High Burden of Sexual Dysfunction in Female Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results of a Cross-sectional Study
Rudolf Puchner, Judith Sautner, Johann Gruber, Elia Bragagna, Andrea Trenkler, Gertraud Lang, Gabriele Eberl, Alois Alkin, Herwig Pieringer
The Journal of Rheumatology Sep 2018, jrheum.171287; DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.171287

Citation Manager Formats

  • BibTeX
  • Bookends
  • EasyBib
  • EndNote (tagged)
  • EndNote 8 (xml)
  • Medlars
  • Mendeley
  • Papers
  • RefWorks Tagged
  • Ref Manager
  • RIS
  • Zotero

 Request Permissions

Share
High Burden of Sexual Dysfunction in Female Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results of a Cross-sectional Study
Rudolf Puchner, Judith Sautner, Johann Gruber, Elia Bragagna, Andrea Trenkler, Gertraud Lang, Gabriele Eberl, Alois Alkin, Herwig Pieringer
The Journal of Rheumatology Sep 2018, jrheum.171287; DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.171287
del.icio.us logo Digg logo Reddit logo Twitter logo CiteULike logo Facebook logo Google logo Mendeley logo
  • Tweet Widget
  • Facebook Like
  • Google Plus One
Save to my folders

Jump to section

  • Article
  • Figures & Data
  • Supplemental
  • References
  • Info & Metrics
  • PDF
  • eLetters

Related Articles

Cited By...

More in this TOC Section

  • Radiographic Progression Inhibition with Intravenous Golimumab in Psoriatic Arthritis: Week 24 Results of a Phase III, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial
  • OMERACT Development of a Core Domain Set of Outcomes for Shared Decision-making Interventions
  • Cyclophosphamide for Systemic Sclerosis-related Interstitial Lung Disease: A Comparison of Scleroderma Lung Study I and II
Show more Articles

Similar Articles

Content

  • First Release
  • Current
  • Archives
  • Collections
  • AV Rheum
  • Forum

Resources

  • Guide for Authors
  • Submit Manuscript
  • Author Payment
  • Reviewers
  • Advertisers
  • Classified Ads
  • Reprints and Translations
  • Permissions
  • Meetings
  • FAQ
  • Policies

Subscribers

  • Subscription Information
  • Purchase Subscription
  • Your Account
  • Terms and Conditions

More

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • My Alerts
  • My Folders
  • RSS Feeds
The Journal of Rheumatology
The content of this site is intended for health care professionals.
Copyright © 2016 by The Journal of Rheumatology Publishing Company Limited
Print ISSN: 0315-162X; Online ISSN: 1499-2752
Powered by HighWire