Premature Ejaculatory Dysfunction in Rheumatoid Arthritis (PED-RA Study)

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of premature ejaculatory dysfunction in rheumatoid arthritis patients. METHODS: After approval from IRB, cross sectional study was conducted from November 1(st), 2020 to August 1(st), 2021 at Department of Rheumatology, Indus Medical College, Pakistan. RA patients were included, written and informed consents were taken. Demographic data was noted and detailed history and examination was carried out. Each participant BMI and Blood pressure was measured. Afterward 5-ml of blood was drawn by a trained phlebotomist for CBC, ESR, fasting blood sugar levels, HBs Ag and anti HCV Antibody test.DAS-28 Calculator was used for RA clinical activity. Premature ejaculation diagnostic tool was used for the assessment of premature ejaculation. RESULTS: Total 168 patients with mean age 32.27 (SD=±9.49) and mean disease duration of 6.35 (SD=±3.95) years were included,. Prevalence of premature ejaculation dysfunction was (44.6%), with mean PED of score 9.17 (SD=±5.23). Hypertension, HCV, Hakeem medications, use of DMARDS had positive association while High BMI and higher DAS-28 has negative association with PED (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There is high prevalence of PED in RA, it needs proper evaluation, treatment and urgent research is needed to know more about it.