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A self-report-based study of the incidence and associations of sexual dysfunction in survivors of intensive care treatment

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Abstract

Objectives

To determine the incidence and associations of sexual dysfunction in survivors of intensive care unit treatment in their first year after hospital discharge using a self-report measure.

Design

A prospective observational study.

Setting

ICU Follow-up Clinic, The Royal Berkshire Hospital, Reading.

Subjects

One hundred and twenty-seven patients aged 18 years and over who spent 3 days or more in the intensive care unit.

Main outcome measures

Demographic data; reported incidence of sexual dysfunction and post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology; association between reported sexual dysfunction and age, gender, post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology and length of intensive care unit stay; patient and partner satisfaction with current sex life.

Results

Fifty-two patients (43.6%) reported symptoms of sexual dysfunction. There was a significant association between sexual dysfunction and post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology (p = 0.019). There was no association between reported sexual dysfunction and gender (p = 0.33), age (p = 0.8) or intensive care unit length of stay (p = 0.41). Forty-five per cent of patients and 40% of partners were not satisfied with their current sex life. No other medical practitioner had sought symptoms of sexual dysfunction during the study period.

Conclusions

Symptoms of sexual dysfunction are common in patients recovering from critical illness and appear to be significantly associated with the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology. The intensive care unit follow-up clinic is a suitable forum for the screening and referral of patients with sexual dysfunction.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nuffield Department of Anaesthetics, University of Oxford, The John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Headington, OX3 9DU, Oxford, UK

    John Griffiths & Jane Quinlan

  2. The Royal Berkshire Hospital, London Road, RG1 5AN, Reading, UK

    Melanie Gager, Derek Fawcett & Carl Waldmann

  3. Centre for Statistics in Medicine, Wolfson College, University of Oxford, OX2 6UD, Oxford, UK

    Nicola Alder

Authors
  1. John Griffiths
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  2. Melanie Gager
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  3. Nicola Alder
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  4. Derek Fawcett
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  5. Carl Waldmann
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  6. Jane Quinlan
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to John Griffiths.

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Griffiths, J., Gager, M., Alder, N. et al. A self-report-based study of the incidence and associations of sexual dysfunction in survivors of intensive care treatment. Intensive Care Med 32, 445–451 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-005-0048-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-005-0048-7

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