Sarcopenic Obesity is Associated with Sexual Dysfunction in Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract Background: Even though the prevalence of sexual dysfunction (SD) is reported to be high in older adults in previous studies, it is rarely investigated with appropriate assessment tools which include all aspects of sexual life. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the frequency of SD and the association between SD and body composition abnormalities such as sarcopenia, obesity, and sarcopenic obesity. Methods: Sarcopenia was diagnosed according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People criteria. Obesity was defined using the fat percentile by Zoico methodology. SD was determined by Arizona Sexual Experience Scale (ASEX). Results: Two-hundred and sixty-seven volunteers (64.4% female, mean age 73.63 ± 6.22 years) participated in this study. One-hundred seventy-eight individuals (66.7%) had SD. It was present in 83.1% and 36.8% of the females and males, respectively (p<0.0001). Marital status and SD were significantly associated (p=0.041). There was no association between SD and sarcopenia alone (OR:1.013, 95% CI: 0.559-1.836, p=0.966) or obesity alone (OR:1.049, 95%CI: 0.514-2.144, p=0.895). Sarcopenic obesity was significantly associated with SD (OR: 3.618, 95%CI: 1.182-11.077, p=0.024). This association was still present after the model was adjusted for marital status (OR: 3.356, 95% CI: 1.088-10.355, p=0.035). Conclusions: SD was present in 66.7% of the older adults. It was associated with sarcopenic obesity, but not with sarcopenia or obesity alone. Further longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the effect of body composition abnormalities on sexual activity in both genders.