P-02-82 The Evolution of Sexuality in Geriatric Patients: A Correlation Between Sexual Activity and Quality of Life of Elderly Men

Population's aging is currently one of the most significant phenomenon in the XXI century, with very important consequences in every section of society. Human longevity has grown in a significant way thanks to differents factors: the meaningful ones are surely the adoption of modern life stiles and the unstoppable scientific progress. All this brings to the conception that old people are facing up to new set of stimolus and necessities lead to sexuality; something that they wouldn't have experienced in the past. This happened especially for a series of social cliché and prejudices which made old people's sexuality not accepted by the community and not so interesting. Precisely for this, scientific community has started studying this fascinating theme only in the last few years. In this descriptive cross sectional study we recruited 40 male subjects between 65 and 90 years old. Through the employment of specific tests (IIEF 5; BDI; QLI; MMSE), we collected data referred to some aspects: sexual function, cognitive state, mood tone, and quality of life in general. The aim of the study was to verify a possible relationship between presence/absence of sexual behaviour and individual's quality of life. Positive and significant relations emerged, with both BDI and IIEF5 scores predicting QLI scores. Multiple regression models were used to try to understand the differential role of both construct in the QLI scores. It was found that each score less of BDI contribute to a diminution of 0.29 in the QLI score while each score in the IIEF5 contribuite to an increase of 0.13 in QLI score. IIEF5 scores has been found to increase QLI score in elderly men. Is it important to promote sexual wellbeing in elderly people, conteracting the ageist culture that see sexuality as an aspect important just for young people.