The prevalence and clinical relevance of sexual dysfunction in women and men with chronic heart failure.
Sexual dysfunction is a common problem of increasing incidence that is associated with multiple co-morbid conditions and chronic diseases. In heart failure, however, exact numbers are unknown, in part secondary to under-reporting and under-interrogating by health care providers. A gender-specific questionnaire was modified from established sexual dysfunction questionnaires to correspond to a non-randomized outpatient heart failure population, to assess the prevalence and demographic distribution of sexual dysfunction and potential treatments expectations. One-hundred patients in a stable hemodynamic condition in New York Heart Association classes I-III participated. Eighty-seven percent of women were diagnosed with female sexual dysfunction compared to 84% of men with erectile dysfunction. Eighty percent of women reported reduced lubrication, which resulted in frequent unsuccessful intercourse in 76%. Thirty-six percent of patients thought that sexual activity could harm their current cardiac condition; 75% of females and 60% of men stated that no physicians ever asked about potential sexual problems. Fifty-two percent of men considered sexual activity in their current condition as an essential aspect of quality of life and 61% were interested in treatment to improve sexual function. Sexual dysfunction appears to be high in prevalence in both men and women with chronic compensated heart failure and represents a reduction in quality of life for most. Despite the fact that most patients are interested in receiving therapy to improve sexual dysfunction, treatment options are rarely discussed or initiated.
Schwarz
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Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Cedars Sinai Medical Center and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA. ernst.schwarz@cshs.org
Kapur
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Bionat
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Rastogi
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Gupta
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Rosanio
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D002908:Chronic Disease; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires