Associations of gender with sexual functioning, loneliness, depression, fatigue and physical function amongst patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis with a particular focus on methotrexate usage

• DOI: 10.1007/s00296-024-05555-y
• Publication Date: 2024-03-14T11:02:38Z
• Authors: Laila T. Bay; Dorthe S. Nielsen; Caroline Flurey; Annamaria Giraldi; Sören Möller; Christian Graugaard; Torkell Ellingsen
• Keywords: Depression; Cross-sectional study

Abstract There is a lack of knowledge regarding methotrexate (MTX) usage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its possible links gender, disease characterization sexual functioning, loneliness, fatigue depression. We, therefore, investigated the associations gender physical function, fatigue, depression, loneliness functioning particular focus on MTX usage. A cross-sectional study design was used. Inclusion criteria were RA diagnosis, age above 18 years available data treatment 1 year after diagnosis. Data consisted responses from validated questionnaires combined evaluations medical records. analysed linear regression models comparing numerical outcome measures between male female users non-users. Amongst 286 (69 men 217 women), 67.8% Comparing women men, both overall within subgroups usage, we found significantly more adverse outcomes for than at diagnosis enrolment study. Gender differences also present when non-users divided by gender. only significant HAQ scores Women had negative measured selected PROMs compared to RA, MTX. These findings call sharpened attention importance care as well future clinical research.