Sexuality in patients with asthma and COPD

Respir Med. 2008 Feb;102(2):198-204. doi: 10.1016/j.rmed.2007.09.012. Epub 2007 Nov 8.

Abstract

Sexual quality of life was examined in 55 outpatients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and asthma, using disease-specific questionnaires. Compared to an age- and sex-matched norm group, male patients with COPD reported a significantly lower sexual quality of life on all dimensions of the questionnaire. Female patients with COPD reported a lower frequency of sexual intimacy and lower sexual quality of life overall. Patients with asthma reported sexual quality-of-life scores that were somewhat better than COPD patients but worse than the healthy control group. Patients reported that they did not discuss sexual quality-of-life issues with their physician. Sexuality needs to be discussed by the health care provider in the consultation in order to improve quality of life of patients with chronic respiratory disorders.

MeSH terms

  • Asthma / psychology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Physician-Patient Relations / ethics
  • Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / psychology*
  • Quality of Life / psychology*
  • Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / psychology*
  • Sickness Impact Profile
  • Surveys and Questionnaires