Abstract 440P
Background
The prevalence of sexual dysfunction in lung cancer patients is still unknown and little reported in our daily practice. With the emerging new treatments and improved survival, more studies are needed to acknowledge the impact of lung cancer (LC) diagnosis and treatments on the quality of sexual life.
Methods
This cross-sectional study evaluated the sexual activity and satisfaction of LC patients treated at our center using a male and a female version of a multiple-choice questionnaire in Portuguese created and revised by the study investigators. Participants were recruited in 2 phases: the first from the 1st of July 2023 to the 31st of January 2024, and the second starting on the 1st of May 2024. To participate, candidates needed to be over 18 years old, diagnosed with LC, able to read and consent, and have completed at least one month of systemic treatment. We present initial results from 45 candidates recruited during the 1st phase.
Results
The survey included 45 patients, mostly male (69%), with a median age of 66.6 years. Most were receiving palliative systemic treatment (62%) for a median of 11 months and were mainly on chemotherapy (31%) and immunotherapy (27%). Only 19 patients were sexually active, with just 4 being women.Women pointed out reasons for sexual inactivity: lack of interest (40%) and a partner (20%), dryness or pain inside the vagina (10%), and symptoms related to LC (10%), among others. While men reported symptoms related to the disease like sadness, dyspnea, and fatigue (33%), no interest in sexual activity (33%), and difficulty with erection (27%). Only 40% of men achieved an erection more than half the time during sexual intercourse, and only one out of four women had no vaginal discomfort. Major factors affecting sexual life included fatigue (38.6%), anxiety or stress (29.5%), breathlessness or coughing (20.45%), and sadness (20.45%). While 51% noted a significant change in their sexual life since diagnosis, only 6 discussed these concerns with their physician.
Conclusions
Sexual dysfunction is prevalent among LC patients and several factors related to the disease and treatment contribute to this. It is important to be aware of this impact on quality of life and implement assessment strategies and interventions to improve sexual life for LC patients.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.