Association between cardiovascular disease and risk of female sexual dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Aims Female sexual dysfunction (FSD) is a considerably underestimated condition. It has been repeatedly reported that patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) may suffer from an increased risk of FSD. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive and systematic evaluation of various CVD and FSD. We aimed to elucidate the association between CVD and FSD through a comprehensive literature review and meta-analysis. Methods and results The PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases were systematically searched from inception to 28 February 2023. We identified all relevant studies reporting the risk of FSD in subjects with or without CVD. The associations between CVD and the risk of FSD were assessed by calculating pooled odds ratios (ORs) (cross-sectional studies) and risk ratios (RRs) (longitudinal studies) with 95% CIs. We employed random-effects models to account for potential heterogeneity, and the quality of the included studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Fifty-four articles with 148 946 individuals were included in our meta-analysis. Compared with control subjects, subjects with CVD had a 1.51-fold increased risk of FSD (OR 1.51 95% CI, 1.34-1.69, P < 0.001, heterogeneity I2 = 91.4%, P < 0.001). Subgroup analyses indicated that the association between CVD and FSD remained significant in longitudinal studies (RR 1.50 95% CI, 1.21-1.86, P < 0.001, heterogeneity I2 = 86.7%, P < 0.001). Particularly, hypertension (OR 1.41 95% CI, 1.23-1.62, P < 0.001, heterogeneity I2 = 82.7%, P < 0.001), stroke (OR 1.81 95% CI, 1.54-2.12, P < 0.001, heterogeneity I2 = 0%, P < 0.423), and myocardial infarction (OR 2.07 95% CI, 1.60-2.67, P < 0.001 heterogeneity I2 = 82.4%, P < 0.001) were significantly associated with FSD. Meta-regression revealed that the primary sources of heterogeneity in FSD are attributable to adjustments for covariates, study design, and study population. Conclusion Our meta-analysis indicated that patients with CVD suffer from a greater risk of developing FSD. Meanwhile, we validated these findings in longitudinal queues. Notably, conditions such as hypertension, stroke, and myocardial infarction demonstrated a significant association with the incidence of FSD.