LUDICAS: sexual dysfunction in patients with lung cancer, a multicenter cross-sectional study

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Sexual Medicine
• Public Health

Background:

• Lung cancer patients frequently experience sexual dysfunction (SD) due to oncological treatments.
• This condition is often under-recognized by healthcare professionals.
• Prevalence data for SD in this population is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of sexual dysfunction in a multicenter cohort of lung cancer patients.
• To identify factors associated with sexual dysfunction in this population.

Main Methods:

• A multicenter, cross-sectional, observational study was conducted.
• Sexual function was assessed using patient-reported outcome (PRO) systems and sex-specific questionnaires.
• Logistic regression analysis was used to identify associations between clinical characteristics and SD.

Main Results:

• Over 63% of 448 patients reported SD after oncological treatment.
• Females experienced twice the frequency of severe impairment in sexual response phases compared to males.
• Factors associated with SD included female sex, age over 65, high educational level, smoking history, and obesity.

Conclusions:

• Sexual dysfunction is highly prevalent in lung cancer patients undergoing oncological treatment.
• Significant sex disparities exist in the frequency and severity of SD.
• Sociocultural factors play a crucial role in the clinical presentation of SD.