Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37628543›Full record

ArticleHealthcare (Basel, Switzerland)2023

The Impact of Systemic Sclerosis on Sexual Health: An Italian Survey.

Alessandro Ferdinando Ruffolo, Maurizio Serati, Arianna Casiraghi, Vittoria Benini, Chiara Scancarello, Maria Carmela Di Dedda, Carla Garbagnati, Andrea Braga, Massimo Candiani, Stefano Salvatore

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
1.3field-weighted citation impact, top 20% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors at 5 institutions in 3 countries.

Alessandro Ferdinando RuffoloObstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute University, 20132 Milan, Italy.ORCID 0000-0002-9983-523X
Maurizio SeratiDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Del Ponte Hospital, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.
Arianna CasiraghiObstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute University, 20132 Milan, Italy.
Vittoria BeniniObstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute University, 20132 Milan, Italy.
Chiara ScancarelloDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Del Ponte Hospital, University of Insubria, 21100 Varese, Italy.
Maria Carmela Di DeddaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, ASST FBF-SACCO Macedonio Melloni Hospital, 20129 Milan, Italy.
Carla GarbagnatiFondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Via Commenda 12, 20122 Milan, Italy.
Andrea BragaDepartment of Obstetrics and Gynecology, EOC-Beata Vergine Hospital, 6850 Mendrisio, Switzerland.ORCID 0000-0002-4877-0640
Massimo CandianiObstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute University, 20132 Milan, Italy.
Stefano SalvatoreObstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS San Raffaele Hospital, Vita-Salute University, 20132 Milan, Italy.
Vita-Salute San Raffaele University · ITUniversity of Insubria · ITLuigi Sacco Hospital · ITOspedale Regionale di Mendrisio · CHUniversity of Milan · IT

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate the impact of systemic sclerosis (SSc) on vulvovaginal atrophy (VVA) and sexual health in an Italian population.

methodsAn Italian survey about the prevalence and severity of VVA (on a 0 to 10 scale) and sexual dysfunction (using the Female Sexual Function Index-FSFI) through an anonymous online questionnaire. We investigated couple relationships and intimacy with partners, the predisposition of patients to talk about their sexual problems, physicians' receptivity, and treatment scenarios. Risk factors for VVA symptoms and sexual dysfunction were assessed.

resultsA total of 107 women affected by SSc were enrolled. Of these, 83.2% of women (89/107) complained about VVA symptoms and 89.7% (among sexually active women; 87/97) about sexual dysfunction. Menopausal status did not affect VVA symptoms, while age was the only independent risk factor for sexual dysfunction. About 70% (74/107) of women reported a negative impact of disturbances on intimacy with their partner. A total of 63 women (58.9%) had never discussed their sexual problems and VVA condition with a physician. Lubricants were the only treatment prescribed, and 75% of women would welcome new therapies, even if experimental (62.9%).

conclusionsIn women with SSc, VVA symptoms and sexual dysfunction are highly prevalent, independently from menopause. In more than half of the investigated women with SSc, we found reluctance to talk about their sexual problems, despite being symptomatic. This should encourage physicians to investigate vulvovaginal and sexual health. SSc patients would welcome the advent of new treatment possibilities for their VVA and sexual complaints.

Indexed as

genitourinary syndrome of menopausequality of lifesexual dysfunctionsexual healthsystemic sclerosisvulvovaginal symptoms

Identifiers

PMID37628543
PMCPMC10454073
OpenAlexW4386030555

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.