SEXUAL DISFUNCTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

INTRODUCTION:  Breast cancer is the most prevalent neoplasia among women, responsible for 20% of deaths in this population. The treatment (mastectomy) always alters patients self-image, perception about their own body and their self-esteem. The objective of this case-control study, is to evaluate the quality of life using World Health Organization Quality of Life abbreviated, WHOQoL-bref and the sexual dysfunction using Female Sexual Function Index, FSFI questionnaires.

METHODS: Women with breast cancer (cases) and women without this disease (controls), identified at Santa Casa de Belo Horizonte, were included. Social demographic, anthropometric and clinical information were also obtained. Multivariate statistical analysis (ordinal regression) was conducted; two models were implemented: (a) the scores of each WHOQoL-bref domain as response variable and (b) the scores of each FSFI domain, as well as the total score, as response variables.

RESULTS: Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment are associated to sexual dysfunction Regarding quality of life, this same association was not detected. Age, report of using hormonal oral contraceptive and abortion history were the other independent risk factors associated to sexual dysfunction. Age at last parity, although not being associated to sexual dysfunction, could not be removed from the final model; this seems to indicate a possible effect modification. In reference to individual domains, results showed that breast cancer is associated to desire, excitation and satisfaction lower scores and not associated to lubrication, orgasm and pain. Age is inversely associated to scores in all domains, except satisfaction. History of abortion inversely associated to desire and excitation. Use of oral contraceptive (inverse association) and education (direct association) to excitation and satisfaction, respectively. Age at last parity, as observed in the total model, have to be kept in the models of all individual domains.

CONCLUSIONS: Breast cancer diagnosis and treatment, age, report of using hormonal oral contraceptive and abortion history are associated to sexual dysfunction.