Abstract: SA-PO784
Quality of Sexual Life Is More Associated with Mental Aspect of Quality of Life Rather Than Physical among ESRD Patients
Session Information
- Standard Hemodialysis for ESRD - I
November 04, 2017 | Location: Hall H, Morial Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 10:00 AM
Category: Dialysis
- 601 Standard Hemodialysis for ESRD
Authors
- Li, Nien-Chen, Fresenius Medical Care, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
- Ofsthun, Norma J., Fresenius Medical Care North America, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
- Maddux, Franklin W., Fresenius Medical Care, Waltham, Massachusetts, United States
- Eneanya, Nwamaka Denise, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Background
In the Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form (KDQOL-SF) survey, there is an item that specifically investigates quality of sexual life (QSL). Few studies have demonstrated associations of QSL with different subscales featured in the KDQOL-SF. We sought to elucidate the relationship of QSL with overall QOL among ESRD patients.
Methods
Between 1/1/2014 and 8/31/2016, we administered KDQOL surveys to 184,986 patients aged between 18 to 85 with ESRD. QSL was ascertained by analyzing the item “How much does kidney disease bother you in your sex life?” with responses ranging from “Not at all” to “Extremely bothered”. To investigate the associations between QSL and overall QOL, two methods were used: 1) correlational analysis between the QSL item and all other items in KDQOL, and 2) correlational analysis between the QSL item and all 5 composite subscales derived from KDQOL.
Results
Among the sample cohort, the mean age at the time of survey was 60.8 (±14.0) years. Fifty-seven percent were male, 60% white race, and 41% married. Thirty-four percent of all patients indicated that their kidney disease bothered their sex life. QSL was more correlated with “emotional” or “mental” rather than “physical” items. For example, r=0.27 for “I feel frustrated dealing with my kidney disease”, but r=0.13 for “moderate activities” For composite subscales, sex life was correlated with the effects of kidney disease subscale (after removing the sex item) by 0.48, followed by the symptom subscale (0.34), burden of kidney disease subscale (0.33), mental component summary (0.30), and physical component summary (0.19). All correlations had a p value <.001.
Conclusion
We demonstrated that QSL was more associated with mental (rather than physical) well-being among dialysis patients. To improve QSL among patients with ESRD, psychological evaluations and treatments should be prioritized.
Funding
- Commercial Support –