Breathlessness and sexual activity in older adults : The Australian Longitudinal Study of Ageing
(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.
(Less)
- author
- Ekström, Magnus LU ; Johnson, Miriam J. ; Taylor, Bridget ; Luszcz, Mary ; Wohland, Pia ; Ferreira, Diana H. and Currow, David C.
- organization
- publishing date
- 2018-12-01
- 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
- 2024-09-16 23:50:51
@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 < 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}}, }