The Relationship between Erectile Dysfunction, Self-Esteem, and Depression in Post-Myocardial Infarction Patients

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Psychology
• Sexual Health

Background:

• Physical and mental health interplay is vital for myocardial infarction (MI) recovery.
• Erectile dysfunction (ED) is prevalent post-MI, affecting psychological well-being and self-esteem.
• Psychosocial aspects, particularly sexual health, are underexplored in cardiac rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• Examine the relationship between ED, self-esteem, and depression in male patients post-MI.
• Assess the impact of ED treatment on patients' psychological health.
• Investigate the correlation between ED and psychological well-being post-MI.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 80 male patients post-MI (within 6 months).
• Utilized Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (SES).
• Assessed erectile dysfunction using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5).

Main Results:

• ED is a key factor negatively affecting self-esteem in post-MI patients.
• A significant negative correlation exists between self-esteem and depression.
• Elevated self-esteem correlates with reduced depressive symptoms and better rehabilitation outcomes.

Conclusions:

• Older male patients post-MI often report lower self-esteem, potentially due to comorbidities and prolonged recovery.
• Age is a significant predictor of lower self-esteem post-MI.
• Demographic factors showed limited influence on self-esteem, depression, or ED in this cohort.