The association between cardiac resynchronization therapy response and sexual activity in patients with heart failure
Mevlüt Serdar Kuyumcu1, Mehmet Alagöz2, Çağrı Yayla1
1Türkiye Yüksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Cardiology Clinic, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) significantly improved erectile dysfunction (ED) in heart failure (HF) patients. Improvements were most pronounced in patients who responded positively to CRT.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Urology
- Sexual Health
Background:
- Sexual activity is crucial for quality of life, often impaired in heart failure (HF) patients.
- Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in HF, potentially linked to cardiac and endothelial dysfunction.
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) positively impacts cardiac function, suggesting a potential benefit for ED.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of CRT in improving sexual activity, specifically erectile function, in patients with HF.
- To assess the correlation between CRT response and improvements in erectile function.
Main Methods:
- A study involving 136 male patients (mean age 61.8 years) with HF.
- Erectile function was assessed using the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire before and 180 days after CRT implantation.
- Patients were categorized into CRT response positive and negative groups for comparative analysis.
Main Results:
- Overall SHIM scores significantly increased post-CRT (12.99 to 18.03, p<0.001).
- Patients with a positive CRT response showed a significantly greater increase in SHIM scores (6.94) compared to non-responders (0.81).
- Positive CRT response was identified as an independent predictor of improved SHIM scores (p<0.001).
Conclusions:
- Cardiac resynchronization therapy demonstrates a positive effect on erectile dysfunction in patients suffering from heart failure.
- The degree of improvement in erectile function is strongly associated with the patient's response to CRT.
Background:
Sexual activity is an important indicator of quality of life and is significantly impaired in patients with heart failure (HF). Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) has positive effects on cardiac dysfunction and endothelial dysfunction that lead to erectile dysfunction (ED). We aimed to evaluate whether CRT may improve sexual activity in patients with HF.
Methods:
In total, 136 patients (mean age 61.8 ± 12.8 years) were evaluated for the study. All patients filled the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) questionnaire for evaluation of their erectile functions before CRT device implantation. One hundred eighty days after CRT device implantation, the patients were re-evaluated with SHIM questionnaire.
Results:
In the whole study population, SHIM test scores were significantly increased after CRT (12.99 ± 3.22 vs. 18.03 ± 5.00; p<0.001). The patients were divided into two groups according to the CRT response. The increase in SHIM test scores was significantly more in the response (+) group than in the response (-) group [response (+) group: 6.94 ± 3.36; p<0.001 vs. response (-) group: 0.81 ± 1.77; p = 0.465]. A positive CRT response was found to be an independent predictor of SHIM score (p<0.001).
Conclusion:
Our study showed that CRT had positive effects on ED of patients with HF.
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