Sexual dysfunction is far more common among people living with asthma and atopic dermatitis (AD) than previously recognized, with women experiencing the greatest burden.
The findings come from the international meta-analysis detailed in the paper, “Global Prevalence of Sexual Dysfunction in Individuals With Atopic Dermatitis and Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis,” and recently published in the journal, Clinical & Experimental Allergy. Researchers analyzed 19 studies from 18 countries, covering more than 10,800 participants, to produce the first global prevalence estimates of sexual dysfunction in these allergic conditions. The findings show:
- 54.3% of individuals with asthma experience some form of sexual dysfunction.
- 19.1% of individuals with AD experience sexual dysfunction.
Women consistently reported far higher rates than men across both conditions.
The study highlights a dramatic sex-based difference:
- Asthma: It affects women 71.5% of the time versus 29.6% of men
- Atopic dermatitis: It affects 53% of women versus 16.7% of men
Researchers suggested underlying causes may include hormonal factors, mood disorders such as anxiety and depression, chronic inflammation and the physical symptoms of allergic disease that impact body image and psychosocial well-being.
According to the paper’s authors, studies using validated questionnaires, such as the Female Sexual Function Index or the International Index of Erectile Function, reported significantly higher prevalence rates than those using general health surveys or clinical notes. Additionally, researchers noted that clinically diagnosed cases showed extremely low prevalence — suggesting sexual dysfunction is substantially underdiagnosed in routine care.
Geographically, researchers reported the prevalence of sexual dysfunction among patients with asthma and AD varied across global regions:
- Africa recorded the highest rates among asthma patients (90%).
- Europe reported above-average prevalence in both asthma and atopic dermatitis.
- Asia showed lower rates, though researchers note limited available data.
The study’s authors said that although asthma and atopic dermatitis are not typically thought of as conditions that affect sexual well-being, their findings suggest that chronic inflammation, itching, sleep disruption, medication side effects and psychological stress can all interfere with sexual desire and responsiveness.
The authors pointed out that sexual function is considered a core component of health by the World Health Organization yet remains overlooked in allergy and dermatology clinics.
Researchers urged clinicians to incorporate standardized sexual-function assessments into the care of patients with asthma and atopic dermatitis — especially women.
The authors also noted large gaps in global data and called for better research on the effects of medication, disease severity and emotional health. Despite limitations — such as variability in study designs and high heterogeneity — the analysis provides the clearest picture to date of a largely unrecognized aspect of allergic disease, they wrote.
