Relationship Between Bowel/bladder, and Sexual Dysfunction With Health-Related Quality of Life in Women With Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-128355/v1

Abstract

Background: Bladder, bowel, and sexual dysfunction are among common complications in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). These complications could affect the quality of life. The goal of this study is to assess bowel, bladder, and sexual dysfunction and quality of life in married women with MS.

Methods: One hundred and twenty-seven married women with MS were enrolled. They fill the valid and reliable Persian version of the Female sexual function index (FSFI), SF-36, Bladder Control Scale (BLCS), and The Bowel Control Scale (BWCS).

Results: Mean age and disease duration were 38±7.9 and 8.4±6.5 years, respectively. There was significant negative correlation between SF-36 and BWCS (r=-0.25, p=0.001) and BLCS (r=-0.36, p=0.001) and significant positive correlation between FSFI and SF-36(r=0.27, p=0.004). There was a significant negative correlation between age and total FSFI (r=-0.34, p<0.001) and also between EDSS and FSFI (r=-0.21, p=0.01). By considering 26.55 as the cut-off point of FSFI, we found that women with sexual dysfunction had a more impaired quality of life and more bowel control problems. Linear regression analysis showed that EDSS and BLCS are independent predictors of SF-36.

Conclusion: Bowel/bladder and sexual dysfunction have negative impacts on the quality of life in women with multiple sclerosis.

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Tables

Table 1: Basic characteristics of the patients

variables

Findings

Age (year)

38±7.9

Disease duration (Year)

8.4±6.5

EDSS

1.6±1.1

Education level

<12  years

≥ 12 years

 

32(32.4%)

95(67.6%)

Occupation

Employed

Unemployed

 

16(12.4%)

111(87.4%)


Table 2: Mean scores of the questionnaires

Variable

Findings

BWCS

4.7±4.7

BLCS

4±5.7

Total FSFI

Desire

Arousal

Lubrication

Orgasm

Satisfaction

Pain

21.6±7.4

3.1±1

3.1±1.3

3.7±1.6

3.4±1.7

3.9±1.4

4.1±1.8

Total SF-36

Physical functioning

Role limitations due to physical health

Role limitations due to emotional problems

Energy/fatigue

Emotional well-being

Social functioning

Pain

General health

51.7±17.6

60.6±25.7

34.3±35

39.9±37.2

41.2±18.4

50.5±18.4

62.2±22.8

66.7±20.5

57.2±17


Table 3: Comparison of different questionnaires in women with and without SD.

Variables

 

≤26.55

N=91

>26.55

N=36

P value

SF-36

47.8±15.7

62.3±17.9

<0.001

BWCS

5.6±4.7

2.6±4

0.005

BLCS

4.6±6.3

2.9±4.9

0.2


Table 4: Linear regression analysis by considering SF-36 as depend variable and other variables as independent.

Variables

Β

 P value

EDSS

 

-5.9

0.002

BWCS

 

-0.17

0.7

BLCS

 

-0.99

0.01

FSFI

 

0.46

0.08

Disease duration

 

2.1

0.66