Sexual dysfunction after renal replacement therapy

The existence of a sexual problem as the subjective evaluation of sexual fu nction was assessed with a simple questionnaire. Those questioned were pati ents undergoing dialysis treatment (n = 400) or with a functioning renal tr ansplant (RTx; n = 300) and both men and women in the general Dutch populat ion (n = 591). In the Dutch control population, 8.7% of the men and 14.9% o f the women reported a sexual problem, showing a significant gender differe nce but unrelated to age. In patients, the prevalence of a sexual problem w as significantly greater (hemodialysis, men, 62.9%; women, 75.0%; peritonea l dialysis, men, 69.8%; women, 66.7%; renal transplantation, men, 48.3%; wo men, 44.4%). In RTx recipients, sexual problems were significantly less pre valent than in patients undergoing dialysis (P < 0.001), Only in male patie nts was an association between prevalence of a sexual problem and age found . The results of the simple questionnaire were sufficiently validated when 102 of 104 patients confirmed their responses in a subsequent structured in terview. This study shows that the prevalence of sexual problems in patient s undergoing renal replacement therapy is high and clinically relevant, (C) 2000 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.