Health-related Quality of Life in Primary Care Diabetes Mellitus Patients with Sexual Dysfunction in Uyo, South-South, Nigeria

Introduction: Sexual dysfunction complications of diabetes mellitus are major public health problems because of their effects on individuals, families, and communities. The objective of this study was to describe the effects of sexual dysfunction on health-related quality of life in primary care patients with diabetes mellitus in Uyo, South-south, Nigeria.

Methods: This was a prospective cross-sectional study conducted between January and December 2017. Using a systematic sampling techniques, 377 subjects aged 18 -69 years were recruited, data were collected with an interviewer-administered structured questionnaire.

Results: Of the 377 respondents, 176 (46.3%) had sexual dysfunction. The mean age of the respondents was 49.6 ± 5.6 year. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction based on IIEF domains among respondents were as follows: erectile dysfunction 149 (84.7%); impairment in sexual drive 142 (80.7%); impairment in intercourse satisfaction 126(71.6%); impairment in overall satisfaction 106 (60.2%) and impairment in orgasm satisfaction 78 (44.3%). Respondents also reported impairment in their overall quality of life (p = 0.000); general health satisfaction (p<0.001); as well as physical health (p<0.001); psychological health (p=0.000) and social relationship domains (p=0.000) of their health-related quality of life-based on WHOQOL-Bréf.

Conclusion: Sexual dysfunction is one of the major complications of diabetes mellitus; its effect on health-related quality of life of those affected is often under-estimated. There is, therefore, need for primary care physicians to develop and execute interventions to address the sexual, social as well as psychological health needs of diabetic patient with sexual dysfunction.