title: Sexual problems in elderly male and female patients with heart failure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate perceived sexual problems in a large group of younger and older patients with heart failure (HF), with and without a partner, focusing on a broad range of perceived sexual problems, and compare this with a sample of healthy community-dwelling elderly people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  17 HF clinics and general practices in The Netherlands.
  
  
  METHODS
  438 patients with HF and 459 healthy community-dwelling elderly people.
  
  
  METHODS
  Differences in sexual functioning, related factors and perceived causes of sexual problems between patients with HF and healthy community controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 59% of HF patients reported sexual problems, mostly problems with erectile function. HF patients with a partner (67%) and younger patients (65%) reported significantly more sexual problems than healthy community controls (58%, p=0.011 and 53%, p=0.011, respectively). Multivariate analyses show that sexual problems in HF patients with a partner were more common in men (OR 2.73, 95% CI 1.572 to 4.753) and in those with a prescription of β-blockers (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.10 to 3.586). In younger patients, sexual problems were independently associated with male gender (OR 3.21, 95% CI 2.099 to 4.908) and having a partner (OR 2.00, 95% CI 1.283 to 3.110). HF patients mainly attribute their sexual problems to symptoms of HF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sexual problems are common in patients with HF, particularly in younger patients and those with a partner. As patients attribute their sexual problems mostly to HF symptoms, adequate treatment and education of HF patients is needed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, PO Box 30.001, 9700 RB Groningen, The Netherlands. t.hoekstra@umcg.nl
authors.forename: Tialda
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: Ivonne
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Lesman-Leegte
authors.forename: Marie Louise
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Luttik
authors.forename: Robbert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sanderman
authors.forename: Dirk J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: van Veldhuisen
authors.forename: Tiny
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jaarsma
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology; D019529:Sexuality; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires