Category: Parkinson's Disease: Non-Motor Symptoms
Objective: To investigate the relationship between sexual health and sleep quality in PD.
Background: Sexual dysfunction (SD) is a common yet under-reported, non-motor symptom (NMS) of Parkinson’s disease (PD). According to World Health Organization, sexual health is a universal right and has a central role in the quality of life. However, few studies have investigated the relationship between sexual function and sleep quality in women living with Parkinson’s disease.
Method: 95 women with confirmed PD diagnosis, mean age of 53.31 years (SD=8.47), in stage 1 – 3 of disease evolution according to Hoehn and Yahr classification, living in 5 different geo-economic regions of Brazil, participated in the present study. After presenting the informed consent form and expressing agreement to participate in the study, participants were asked to answer several questions through telephone interviews. In addition, the sexual function was evaluated by Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and by the Sex Quotient – female version (QS-VF). Sleep quality was assessed by Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale (PDSS). Considering that the results do not present a normal distribution, the Spearman and Kendall Tau non-parametric correlation tests were used. P-values below 5% were considered statistically significant.
Results: There was no statistically significant correlation between FSFI (particularly satisfactions of sexual life) or QS-VF (sexual performance) with scores and age, H&Y stage, disease duration, levodopa dosage. There were statistically significant correlations of both variables used to assess the sexual health (FSFI and QS-VF) with PDSS scores (p = 0,009; p = 0,001 respectively). Among the FSFI domains that correlated with sleep were: desire, arousal, satisfaction and pain.
Conclusion: Sexual health is associated with sleep quality in Parkinson’s disease in women living with PD. Thus, it is crucial to include the improvement sleep disturbances among the therapeutic aim for women living with PD.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
KCN. Nobrega, TSM. Martins, GFS. Santos, MEP. Piemonte. Sexual health and sleep quality in women living with Parkinson’s disease: are we neglecting that? [abstract]. Mov Disord. 2023; 38 (suppl 1). https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/sexual-health-and-sleep-quality-in-women-living-with-parkinsons-disease-are-we-neglecting-that/. Accessed November 21, 2024.« Back to 2023 International Congress
MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/sexual-health-and-sleep-quality-in-women-living-with-parkinsons-disease-are-we-neglecting-that/