Sexual health in Polish elderly men with coronary artery disease: importance, expectations, and reality

Abstract

Deterioration in overall health, hormonal disturbances, and erectile dysfunction (ED) contributes to limitations in sexual activity in the elderly, which is further limited by incorrect beliefs about the hazards of sexual activity in cardiac patients. We aimed to analyze the occurrence of ED in elderly men, their perception of the relevance of good sexual function, and their expectations of physicians. A cross-sectional study encompassed 731 patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) subjected to cardiac rehabilitation. Demographic data and data on modifiable risk factors and patient expectations were collected. ED was assessed using the IIEF-5 questionnaire. Relationships among the risk factors for ED, occurrence of ED, and patient expectations, as well as the changes in the indicators between 2012 and 2016, were analyzed. The mean age of men was 70.7 ± 5.1 years. The prevalence of ED was 93.0%. The IIEF-5 score was significantly associated with age, tobacco smoking, exercise tolerance, time to diagnosis of CAD, and treatment with calcium channel blockers and diuretics. Patients declared that sexual activity was overall important (47.9%) or very important (25.6%). Three hundred and sixty (49.3%) patients expected their physician to show interest in their sexual health, but the topic was addressed in only 12.5%. Over the past few years, we have observed an increase in the awareness and importance of sexual health as well as a significant increase in patients' expectations of physicians to show interest in their sexual health. Patients' expectations of discussing and receiving treatment for ED remain an unmet medical need.

Keywords

• advanced age; cardiac rehabilitation; erectile dysfunction; ischemic heart disease; sexual disorders