Sexual dysfunction in adults with diabetes: Results from Diabetes MILES-Australia — ASN Events
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Sexual dysfunction in adults with diabetes: Results from Diabetes MILES-Australia (#255)

Jessica L Browne 1 2 , Molly Byrne 3 , Frans Pouwer 4 , Jane Speight 1 2 5
  1. The Australian Centre for Behavioural Research in Diabetes, Diabetes Australia - Vic, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
  2. Centre for Mental Health and Wellbeing Research, School of Psychology, Deakin University, Burwood, VIC, Australia
  3. School of Psychology, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland
  4. Centre of Research on Psychology in Somatic diseases, Tilburg University, Tilburg, The Netherlands
  5. AHP Research, Hornchurch, Essex, UK

AIMS: While the link between diabetes and sexual dysfunction (SD) is well-documented, little is known about the relationships between SD and psychological well-being in people with diabetes. Our aim was to examine the prevalence of currently diagnosed SD and to investigate the impact of SD on psychological well-being, in a national sample of adults with type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), using the Diabetes MILES-Australia dataset.

METHOD: Diabetes MILES-Australia was a national survey (postal and online) of 3,338 adults with T1DM (41%) or T2DM (59%), which focused on psychosocial and behavioural issues. The survey included study-specific items (e.g. diagnosed co-morbidities) and validated scales (e.g. depression (PHQ-9), anxiety (GAD-7)).

RESULTS: SD was the most commonly reported co-morbidity (17% of respondents). SD was more prevalent among people with T2DM (21%) than T1DM (12%; p<0.001), and among men (29%) than women (8%; p<0.001). Compared with respondents without SD, those with SD were older (mean±standard deviation: 50±14 versus 58±10 years), had a longer diabetes duration (11±10 versus 14±11 years), had more complications (2.4±2.1 versus 4.3±2.8) and had higher mean depression (6.0±5.5 versus 8.6±6.8) and anxiety (4.3±4.7 versus 6.1±5.7) scores; all p<0.001. These independent variables accounted for 24.6% of the variance in SD (χ2(6)=517.1,p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS: Sexual dysfunction is common among adults with diabetes. Actual prevalence may be higher than reported here, as it is likely SD is under-diagnosed and under-reported. People with SD are more likely to have T2DM, be older, have had diabetes for longer, have more complications, and have more symptoms of depression and anxiety than those without SD. Health professionals need to be aware that one in five people with diabetes may have SD and associated emotional distress. Further research is needed to better understand the impact of SD on the lives of people with diabetes.