Abstract
Introduction: Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is characterized by a repeated episodes of complete or partial obstruction of the upper airways during sleep, which make the affected wake up. Very often, OSA patients report decreased libido.
Aim of the study: The assessment of the prevalence of weakened sex drive and correlation with specific OSA symptoms associated with loss of libido in studied patients.
Materials and methods: The survey was conducted among 401 people 335 males (aged 49,5±11,7 yrs) and 65 females (aged 55,4±10,92 yrs), who were to undergo a scheduled PSG. The survey included STOP-BANG questionnaire, ESS, the quality and length of sleep, sleep breathing disorders and the presence of sexual drive impairment. PSG examination of 298 subjects (65 F, 298 M).
Results: Mean BMI of the studied group was 31,24 kg/m2 (min. 20,0 max. 59,1). Mean daytime sleepiness was 11,6±5,22 pts in Epworth scale. 296 subjects (40F, 256M) responded to the question regarding the disturbance of libido in relation to sleep disordered breathing. Weakened sex drive was reported by 178 patients (44,4%): 145 men (56,6%) and 33 women (82,5%), this differences were significant in U-Mann-Whitney test. Age of patients affected negatively the sex drive in men (r=0,4, p<0,05), but not in women (r=0,2, p>0,05). There was a positive correlation between AHI and BMI, ESS, age but not with weakened sex drive.
Conclusions: Obstructive sleep apnea negatively influence the sex drive in both men and women. More women were affected by the negative influence of sleep apnea on sex drive, moreover the age of studied women did not influence the lowered libido.
- © 2014 ERS