Sexual dysfunction and its consequences in patients with cardiovascular diseases

Due to the high prevalence of sexual disorders in men and women with cardiovascular disease, the associations between sexual dysfunction, depression, anxiety, quality of life and partnership were investigated. Studies examining impairments to certain aspects of psychological health and interpersonal life in cardiac patients are still lacking. The SPARK (Sexuality of Patients in Rehabilitation of Cardiovascular Diseases) investigation is the first study which explores these relevant associations in German rehabilitation patients. Five rehabilitation centers for cardiovascular diseases took part in our cross-sectional study. Associations between sexual dysfunction and depression, anxiety, quality of life and partnership were tested using z-tests (resulting parameter prevalence rate ratio, PRR) and via multiple binary logistic regressions controlling for age and severity of cardiovascular disease as possible confounders (resulting parameter odds ratio, OR). Sexual function could be assessed in 261 men and 75 women (sexual activity during the previous month; for detailed flow chart see Fig. 1). In total, 43.1% of female patients reported a sexual dysfunction, while 20.2% of male patients stated to have at least moderate erectile dysfunction (ED). The proportion of self-assessed sexual problems is shown in Fig. 2. Women with a sexual dysfunction were impaired to a significantly higher extent compared to women without sexual dysfunction with regard to their quality of partnership (PRR 13.0; p=0.019; OR 25.42, confidence interval, CI, 2.5-254.9), anxiety (PRR 3.2; p=0.053; OR 4.43, CI 1.2-16.4) and psychological quality of life (PRR 2.4; p=0.115; OR 6.08, CI 1.6-22.9). Men with ED reported significantly stronger depression (PRR 3.6; p=0.003; OR 3.63, CI 1.5-8.8) and anxiety (PRR 2.4; p=0.008; OR 2.88, CI 1.4-5.9) compared to men without ED. For detailed information see Tables 1 and 2. Due to the high proportion of men and women with cardiovascular disease reporting sexual disorders, depression and anxiety, screening for these disorders should be an integral part of comprehensive rehabilitation programs. In particular, the diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric comorbidity seem to be necessary from a tertiary preventive perspective.