The objectives of this study were to investigate the relationship between a low libido and objective sleep parameters as well as mood disturbances in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSA).
We enrolled 436 untreated patients who were newly diagnosed with OSA (all male, mean age 42.8 years). Patients completed the Symptom checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI), and Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI). Patients were divided into low-libido and normal-libido groups according to their response to the statement "Loss of sexual interest or pleasure" on the SCL-90-R.
Approximately 23% of patients reported a low libido. Patients with a low libido were older (47.5 ± 9.0 vs. 41.4 ± 11.1 years; p < 0.001), had more nocturia (33.3% vs. 16.6%; p < 0.001), higher BDI (9.0 (5.0-14.0) vs. 5.0 (2.0-9.0); p < 0.001) and BAI score (11.0 (6.3-16.8) vs. 5.0 (2.0-10.0); p < 0.001). These patients had a lower non-REM sleep stage 3 (N3) % (0.1 (0-4.0) vs. 2.3 (0.1-7.9); p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that older age and higher BDI score were independent factors associated with a low libido.
Men with untreated OSA suffered from a low libido. Older age and depressed mood were the most important factors of low libido in middle-aged men with OSA.
Sleep medicine. 2018 Sep 20 [Epub ahead of print]
Jun Kyu Mun, Su Jung Choi, Mi-Ri Kang, Seung Bong Hong, Eun Yeon Joo
Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea., Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Nursing, Samsung Medical Center, Department of Clinical Nursing Science, Graduate School of Clinical Nursing Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea., Department of Neurology, Busan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan, Republic of Korea., Department of Neurology, Neuroscience Center, Samsung Biomedical Research Institute, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Health Sciences and Technology, SAIHST, Sungkyunkwan University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: .