Sexual Function in Patients With Systemic Vasculitis: An Overlooked Aspect of Patient Care. Results From a...

Systemic vasculitides are inflammatory diseases affecting multiple organs and impacting patients' quality of life, including sexual health-an aspect often overlooked in clinical care. This study aimed to identify factors associated with SD in patients with systemic vasculitis.

A cross-sectional study was conducted from October 2023 to February 2025 at 3 centers in Mexico and Peru. Adults (≥18 y) with systemic vasculitis who were sexually active in the prior 6 months were included. Data collected included demographics, comorbidities, disease characteristics, treatment, physician (PhGA) and patient global assessments (PtGA), disease activity (BVAS v3 or EULAR definitions), damage (VDI), and sexual function (CSFQ-14).

One hundred patients were included (57% females), mean age 47 (±13.5) years, median disease duration 83 months (IQI: 48 to 140). The most common types of vasculitides were granulomatosis with polyangiitis (47%) and microscopic polyangiitis (21%). SD was identified in 44% of patients, more frequent in women (70% vs 46%; p = 0.016) and older patients (51.8 vs 43.4 y; p = 0.002). Those with SD had lower hemoglobin (13.3 vs 14.2 g/dL; p = 0.002) and worse global assessments (PhGA: 5 vs 1 mm; p = 0.04; PtGA: 21 vs 10 mm; p = 0.006). CSFQ-14 score correlated negatively with PtGA and positively with hemoglobin. Female sex (OR: 3.55, 95% CI: 1.16-10.8; p = 0.026) and age (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 1.015-1.115; p = 0.01) remained independently associated with SD.

Sexual dysfunction appears to be common in systemic vasculitis, particularly among older women. Sexual health should be considered and discussed when clinically relevant.