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Objectives: Rheumatologic diseases may impair the quality of life (QoL) by affecting sexual functions in different ways. We aimed to evaluate sexual functions and the disease-related variables, physical and psychogenic states in female patients with ankylosing spondylitis and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthropathy., Methods: A total of 98 women with axial spondyloarthropathy (axSpA) and 99 healthy females were included in the study. The axSpA group was divided into two subgroups as ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthropathy (nr-axSpA) (62 AS and 36 nr-axSpA). The patients' disease-related variables recorded. All the women in the axSpA and control groups were evaluated gynaecologically. The female sexual function index (FSFI), Health Status Questionnaire [Short Form (SF)-36], and Hospital Depression and Anxiety Scale (HADS) were applied to all participants., Results: Clitoral and labial atrophy and speculum pain score were significantly higher in the axSpA group (p<0.05). The FSFI and QoL-SF-36 scores were significantly lower and the HAD-D and HAD-A scores were significantly higher of in the axSpA group than in the control group (p<0.05 for all). There was no significant between the axSpA subgroups in terms of the FSFI, QoL-SF-36 and HAD scores., Conclusions: In elderly women with axSpA, disease duration and limitation of movement are more effective in genital atrophy and sexual functions, but there is no difference between those with AS and nr-axSpA in relation to sexual functions and psychological burden.

Objectives: Sexual dysfunctions in patients with rheumatological diseases can negatively affect human sexual life, and thus lead to the deterioration of quality of life. This study aimed to determine the effects of primary Sjögren's syndrome (pSS) on female sexual organs and sexual functions., Methods: A total of 68 women with pSS and 135 healthy female patients were included in the study. All the women in the study and control groups were evaluated gynaecologically, and genital findings during the examination and variables related to pSS were recorded. The women's sexual functions were evaluated with the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and quality of life was evaluated using the Health Status Questionnaire-Short Form 36 (QoL-SF 36)., Results: There was no difference in terms of the ages of the patients between the pSS and control groups [50 (25-70) and 49 (23-70) years, respectively] (p=0.487). The FSFI and QoL-SF 36 scores of the pSS group were significantly lower than the control group (p<0.05). Although the age of the patients, duration of menopause, and presence of atrophy on genital examination significantly correlated with sexual dysfunction, there was no significant correlation between pSS activity-related variables and sexual dysfunction., Conclusions: It was determined that pSS led to sexual dysfunction by causing genital atrophy and vaginal dryness in women. Moreover, mood changes associated with the disease, especially depression, were revealed to be an independent risk factor for this condition.

Objectives: To explore the impact of early versus late-onset psoriasis (PsO) on the disease characteristics of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in a large-multicentre cohort., Methods: The data from a multicentre psoriatic arthritis database was analysed. Patients were grouped according to age at psoriasis onset (early onset; <40 years of age, late-onset; >40 years of age) and disease characteristics of the groups were compared by adjusting for BMI and PsA duration, where necessary., Results: At the time of analyses, 1634 patients were recruited [62.8% females; early onset 1108 (67.8%); late-onset, 526 (32.2%)]. The late-onset group was more over-weight [66.8% vs. 86.8%, p<0.001; adjusted for age - aOR 1.55 (1.11-2.20; 95% CI)]. The early onset group had more scalp psoriasis at onset (56.7% vs. 43.0%, p<0.001), whereas extremity lesions were more common in the late-onset group (63.8% vs. 74.2%, p<0.001). Axial disease in males and psoriatic disease family history in females were significantly higher in the early onset group [38.0% vs. 25.4%; p=0.005; adjusted for PsA duration - aOR 1.76 (1.19-2.62; 95% CI) / 39.5% vs. 30.1%; p=0.003; OR 1.51 (1.15-1.99; 95% CI), respectively]. Psoriatic disease activity parameters, patient-physician reported outcomes and HAQ-DI scores were similar in both groups., Conclusions: Clinical features of PsA may be affected by the age at onset of PsO. Different genetic backgrounds in early and late-onset PsO may be driving the differences in psoriasis and PsA phenotypes.