Background Chronic Low Back Pain (CLBP) is a major public health problem responsible of disability and use of health services. Sexual difficulties in CLBP patients seem to be wide-ranging and probably different between men and women. A few published studies have focused on analyzing the impact of CLBP on sexual life of patients with gender comparison.

Objectives Thus, we aimed to compare the impact of CLBP on sexual life of Moroccan patients between men and women in our context of Arabic Muslim country and to identify factors that may contribute to alter sexual functioning in the 2 genders.

Methods 50 women and 50 men (mean age 43.28±7.5 years) suffering from CLBP and sexually active were included. None of those patients was affected by any of other chronic diseases which could disturb sexual life. Men and women were adjusted for age, duration and functional impact of CLBP. CLBP characteristics and aspects of impact of CLBP on sexuality were assessed. Sexual quality of life was measured by the sexual quality of life questionnaire (SQOL-M for men, SQOL-F for women). A score of 100% means an excellent SQOL.

Results Eighty one percent of our patients complained about sexual difficulties related to CLBP. Men estimated having a sexual life more disturbed than women (90 vs. 72%; p=0.022). They were less satisfied than women with their sexual life after the CLBP (2.90 vs. 3.76; p=0.04). Decrease of libido was more reported by women (20 vs. 4%; p=0.01). The SQOL was more decreased in men than women (38.95±17.2 vs. 50.35±15.7; p=0.001). In women, SQOL was significantly correlated with age (r= -0.276; p=0.05) and back pain (r= -0.271; p=0.05). In men, SQOL was correlated with age (r= -0.425; p=0.02), disease duration (r= -0.61; p<0.001), back pain (r= -0.337; p=0.01) and functional impact of CLBP (r= -0.30; p=0.03). In multiple linear regressions, decreased SQOL was associated with an advanced age (p=0.02) and a chronic pain (p=0.002) in men but there was no significant contributors to a decreased SQOL in women.

Conclusions Sexual life is significantly disturbed by CLBP. These disturbances appear more important in men than women. Older men suffering from a chronic back pain were more concerned by a deteriorated sexual quality of life. For this, sexual function should be taken into account in management of CLBP. Further studies on large samples are needed to confirm those results.

Disclosure of Interest None Declared