Right Ventricular Function and Sexual Function: Exploring Shadows in Male and Female Patients With Heart Failure

Sexual health plays an important role in heart failure (HF) patients, and the relationship between HF and sexual dysfunction is well established; however, the role of right ventricular function in sexual dysfunction has not been investigated sufficiently.

To investigate the potential association between right ventricular dysfunction and sexual dysfunction in both male and female patients with HF.

Patients with a clinical diagnosis of HF were evaluated in a cross-sectional study. Patients from the whole spectrum of HF were included in the study, regardless of cause, duration, and classification of HF. Sexual function in men was evaluated with the International Index of Erectile Function and in women with the Female Sexual Functioning Index.

We demonstrate that right ventricular dysfunction is associated with worse sexual function in both men and women.

306 consecutive patients with HF participated in the study. Right ventricular systolic dysfunction ranged from 24.2-39.1% and right ventricular diastolic dysfunction from 16.1-83.1%, depending on the echocardiographic parameter that was assessed. Right ventricular systolic dysfunction assessed by tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), TAPSE/pulmonary artery systolic pressure ratio, and right ventricular basal diameter was associated with a lower International Index of Erectile Function score (P = .031, P = .009, and P < .001, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that erectile function was independently associated only with TAPSE/pulmonary artery systolic pressure ratio and tricuspid late tricuspid diastolic flow velocity wave (β = 32.84, P = .006; and β = -0.47, P = .026, respectively), whereas female sexual function was independently associated only with the early tricuspid diastolic flow velocity/late tricuspid diastolic flow velocity ratio (β= -0.47, P = .026).

Our study demonstrates that right ventricular dysfunction in patients with HF reflects an impaired sexual function status. Physicians should be aware of this association and closely evaluate those patients for sexual dysfunction.

We innovatively assessed the correlation between right ventricular dysfunction and sexual function using validated questionnaires. The main limitation is the relatively small sample size.

Our study provides some new insights into the relationship between sexual dysfunction and right ventricular systolic and diastolic dysfunction in HF patients, also suggesting potential interventions to improve sexual and right ventricular function and prognosis in this population. Koutsampasopoulos K, Vogiatzis I, Ziakas A, et al. Right Ventricular Function and Sexual Function: Exploring Shadows in Male and Female Patients With Heart Failure. J Sex Med 2019;16:1199-1211.