Sexuality and Chronic Respiratory Disease

Abstract

Background: At the admission in rehabilitation program, some patients with chronic respiratory disease were asked by a health professional to to answer a questionnaire about their sexuality. The objectives of the study were 1) to determine if sexual problems occurred in patients with respiratory chronic disease ; 2) to assess if these survey problems were linked to respiratory disease; 3) to explore the motivation to speak about sexuality during rehabilitation program.

Methods: 52 consecutive respiratory disease subjects (58.3 ± 9 yr; FEV1 = 65.5 ± 21 % predicted, mean ± SD) answered a sexuality questionnaire survey with rehabilitation team (psychologists, nurses, physiotherapists). This group comprised 26 men and 26 women.

Results: 70% of patients estimated that respiratory disease had an impact on their sexuality. A visual analog scale showed that 62% of patients were not satisfied. The severity of obstruction (FEV1) was not correlated to satisfaction (r=.017, P=0.90), or frequency (r=.08, P=0.55). Breathlessness was the most important factor of discomfort in sexual activity (61.5%). Tiredness and cough came second (32% and 21% respectively). 63% of respiratory patients never spoke about their sexuality with a health professional. 60% would like the health professional to begin to talk about their sexuality. 36% of patients spoke about it with a professional. In this group, 94% of patients told the professional about their sexual activity on their own initiative.

Conclusion: More than one of two chronic respiratory disease patients (77%) participating in a rehabilitation program want sexuality to be taken into consideration during their program.