PMID- 8836742
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 19961217
LR  - 20191101
IS  - 0147-9563 (Print)
IS  - 0147-9563 (Linking)
VI  - 25
IP  - 4
DP  - 1996 Jul-Aug
TI  - Sexual function in patients with advanced heart failure.
PG  - 262-70
AB  - OBJECTIVES: To determine the effect of low ejection fraction on sexual function 
      and the relation between alterations in sexual function and pertinent clinical, 
      demographic, and psychosocial variables in patients with advanced heart failure. 
      DESIGN: This study was descriptive and correlational in design. SETTING: The 
      setting was an outpatient clinic of a university-affiliated hospital. SUBJECTS: 
      Sixty-two male (82%) and female (18%) patients with advanced heart failure (New 
      York Heart Association [NYHA] class III or IV) were studied. MEASURES: Exercise 
      tolerance and symptom severity were assessed by the 6-minute walk and NYHA 
      classification. Ejection fraction was measured by echocardiography. Alterations 
      in the patients' emotional, social, and sexual function were assessed with the 
      self-report version of the Psychosocial Adjustment to Illness Scale. RESULTS: 
      Approximately three quarters of the patients reported a marked decrease in sexual 
      interest and in the frequency of sexual relations caused by illness, with one 
      quarter having ceased all sexual activity. Half the patients described having 
      experienced marked reductions, after heart failure developed, in the pleasure or 
      satisfaction they normally experienced from sex. Few patients had arguments with 
      their spouses about sex or reported significant marital problems as a result of 
      their illness. A significant relation was documented between patients' sexual 
      function and the results of the 6-minute walk (r = 0.32, p < 0.005), as well as 
      between sexual function and NYHA functional class (r = 0.21, p < 0.05). Sexual 
      function was also related to the patient's social environment (r = 0.59, p < 
      0.001), psychologic distress (r = 0.38, p < 0.001), and domestic environment (r = 
      0.29, p < 0.05). No significant differences in sexual function were noted when 
      patients were compared on the basis of differences in ejection fraction, 
      medications, gender, or age. CONCLUSION: Advanced heart failure results in marked 
      changes in libido and in the ability to perform sexually. These changes do not 
      affect the marital relationship negatively, at least in the view of the patient. 
      As patients' symptoms of heart failure become increasingly more severe, 
      physicians and nurses need to counsel patients and their spouses about the 
      changes they may experience in their sexual relationships. Attention needs to 
      focus on ways to cope with the decreasing physical status that accompanies 
      advanced heart failure to minimize negative changes in sexual functioning.
FAU - Jaarsma, T
AU  - Jaarsma T
AD  - University of Limburg, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
FAU - Dracup, K
AU  - Dracup K
FAU - Walden, J
AU  - Walden J
FAU - Stevenson, L W
AU  - Stevenson LW
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - United States
TA  - Heart Lung
JT  - Heart & lung : the journal of critical care
JID - 0330057
SB  - IM
MH  - Age Factors
MH  - Exercise Tolerance
MH  - Female
MH  - Heart Failure/*physiopathology/psychology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Libido
MH  - Male
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Psychological Tests
MH  - Severity of Illness Index
MH  - *Sex
MH  - Sex Factors
MH  - Sexual Behavior
MH  - Social Environment
MH  - Spouses
MH  - Stroke Volume
EDAT- 1996/07/01 00:00
MHDA- 1996/07/01 00:01
CRDT- 1996/07/01 00:00
PHST- 1996/07/01 00:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 1996/07/01 00:01 [medline]
PHST- 1996/07/01 00:00 [entrez]
AID - S0147-9563(96)80061-6 [pii]
AID - 10.1016/s0147-9563(96)80061-6 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Heart Lung. 1996 Jul-Aug;25(4):262-70. doi: 10.1016/s0147-9563(96)80061-6.