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Breathlessness and sexual activity in older adults : The Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing

Ekström, Magnus LU orcid ; Johnson, Miriam J. ; Taylor, Bridget ; Luszcz, Mary ; Wohland, Pia ; Ferreira, Diana H. and Currow, David C. (2018) In npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine 28(1).
Abstract

Sexual activity is important to older adults (65 +). Breathlessness affects about 25% of older adults but impact on sexual activity is unknown. We evaluated the relationships between breathlessness and sexual inactivity and self-reported health among older community-dwelling adults in the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Associations between self-reported breathlessness (hurrying on level ground or walking up a slight hill) at baseline, self-reported sexual activity, overall health and health compared to people of the same age were explored using logistic regression at baseline and 2 years, adjusted for potential confounders (age, sex, marital status, smoking status and co-morbidities). Of 798 participants (mean age 76.4 years... (More)

Sexual activity is important to older adults (65 +). Breathlessness affects about 25% of older adults but impact on sexual activity is unknown. We evaluated the relationships between breathlessness and sexual inactivity and self-reported health among older community-dwelling adults in the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Associations between self-reported breathlessness (hurrying on level ground or walking up a slight hill) at baseline, self-reported sexual activity, overall health and health compared to people of the same age were explored using logistic regression at baseline and 2 years, adjusted for potential confounders (age, sex, marital status, smoking status and co-morbidities). Of 798 participants (mean age 76.4 years [SD, 5.8] 65 to 103; 53% men, 73% married), 688 (86.2%) had 2-year follow-up data. People with breathlessness had higher prevalence and duration of sexual inactivity (77.7% vs. 65.6%; p < 0.001; 12 [IQR, 5-17] vs. 9.5 [IQR, 5-16] years; p = 0.043). Breathlessness was associated with more sexual inactivity, (adjusted OR 1.75; [95% CI] 1.24-2.45), worse health (adjusted OR 2.02; 1.53-2.67) and worse health compared to peers (adjusted OR 1.72; 1.25-2.38). Baseline breathlessness did not predict more sexual inactivity at 2 years. In conclusion, breathlessness contributes to sexual inactivity and worse perceived health in older adults, which calls for improved assessment and management.

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; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine
volume
28
issue
1
article number
20
publisher
Nature Publishing Group
external identifiers
  • pmid:29934520
  • scopus:85048969544
ISSN
2055-1010
DOI
10.1038/s41533-018-0090-x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c81d6159-5200-47f3-a102-5bf8331c7e2c
date added to LUP
2018-07-04 09:05:06
date last changed
2024-07-08 16:10:36
@article{c81d6159-5200-47f3-a102-5bf8331c7e2c,
  abstract     = {{<p>Sexual activity is important to older adults (65 +). Breathlessness affects about 25% of older adults but impact on sexual activity is unknown. We evaluated the relationships between breathlessness and sexual inactivity and self-reported health among older community-dwelling adults in the Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing. Associations between self-reported breathlessness (hurrying on level ground or walking up a slight hill) at baseline, self-reported sexual activity, overall health and health compared to people of the same age were explored using logistic regression at baseline and 2 years, adjusted for potential confounders (age, sex, marital status, smoking status and co-morbidities). Of 798 participants (mean age 76.4 years [SD, 5.8] 65 to 103; 53% men, 73% married), 688 (86.2%) had 2-year follow-up data. People with breathlessness had higher prevalence and duration of sexual inactivity (77.7% vs. 65.6%; p &lt; 0.001; 12 [IQR, 5-17] vs. 9.5 [IQR, 5-16] years; p = 0.043). Breathlessness was associated with more sexual inactivity, (adjusted OR 1.75; [95% CI] 1.24-2.45), worse health (adjusted OR 2.02; 1.53-2.67) and worse health compared to peers (adjusted OR 1.72; 1.25-2.38). Baseline breathlessness did not predict more sexual inactivity at 2 years. In conclusion, breathlessness contributes to sexual inactivity and worse perceived health in older adults, which calls for improved assessment and management.</p>}},
  author       = {{Ekström, Magnus and Johnson, Miriam J. and Taylor, Bridget and Luszcz, Mary and Wohland, Pia and Ferreira, Diana H. and Currow, David C.}},
  issn         = {{2055-1010}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{12}},
  number       = {{1}},
  publisher    = {{Nature Publishing Group}},
  series       = {{npj Primary Care Respiratory Medicine}},
  title        = {{Breathlessness and sexual activity in older adults : The Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41533-018-0090-x}},
  doi          = {{10.1038/s41533-018-0090-x}},
  volume       = {{28}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}