Sexual problems in elderly male and female patients with heart failure

• Objectives 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. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanDesign Cross-sectional study. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanSetting 17 HF clinics and general practices in The Netherlands. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanParticipants 438 patients with HF and 459 healthy community-dwelling elderly people. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanMain Outcome Measures Differences in sexual functioning, related factors and perceived causes of sexual problems between patients with HF and healthy community controls. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanResults 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 beta-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. less thanbrgreater than less thanbrgreater thanConclusion 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.

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