title: The effect of sex counselling in the sexual activity of acute myocardial infarction patients after primary percutaneous coronary intervention.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Primary percutaneous coronary intervention has improved the outcome of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) patients. Counsel-guided sex rehabilitation efficacy in acute myocardial infarction patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention remains unknown.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to study counsel-guided sex rehabilitation efficacy in AMI patients receiving percutaneous coronary intervention.
  
  
  METHODS
  240 AMI patients who received percutaneous coronary intervention were randomly divided into a control and a counselling group. Control group patients were given written sex rehabilitation instruction before discharge, while counselling group patients were given written instruction before discharge and monthly counselling with healthcare providers. Before discharge, the first evaluation was performed for frequency of and satisfaction with sexual activity before AMI. At one year of follow-up, the time of resuming, frequency of and satisfaction with sexual activity was evaluated. The main adverse event rates were also investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant differences in age, sex, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, PVD (peripheral vascular disease), EF (ejection fraction) or GRACE (Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events) score were found between the groups. Both groups suffered reduced frequency of and satisfaction with sexual activity after AMI as compared with prior to presentation with AMI. However, compared with controls, the counselling group had higher scores for frequency of and satisfaction with sexual activity after AMI. The time to resume sexual activity after AMI in the counselling group was significantly shorter than was found for the control group.There were no significant differences between the groups for recurrent AMI, non-fatal stroke, admitting the patient for angina, all-cause death or adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intermittent discussions between healthcare providers and AMI patients improved resumption of sexual activity. Encouraging patients who received complete coronary revascularization to resume sexual activity shortly after AMI was safe.
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Ming
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hou
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D062645:Percutaneous Coronary Intervention / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D011184:Postoperative Period; D012307:Risk Factors; D012731:Sex Counseling / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000502:physiology*