Sexual functioning after the age of 40 in adults with moderate or severe congenital heart disease

Background Sexual health and functioning represent significant, yet often overlooked, components of psychosocial well-being of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD). Prior research report contrasting findings; little is known about older adults with CHD, and few studies have compared patients to controls from the general population. This study investigated sexual functioning in middle-aged and elderly patients with CHD and compared with controls. Methods This was a Swedish sub-study of a larger international study that recruited patients 40 years of age or older with moderate or severe CHD as well as controls from the general Swedish population. Erectile dysfunction (ED) in males was assessed using the International Index of Erectile Function, and sexual dysfunction (SD) in females was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index. Results The reported prevalence of ED was higher among the 57 males with CHD vs. 37 controls (21% vs. 2.7%, p=0.01). Among patients, ED was associated with increasing age (OR=1.11; 95% CI 1.03-1.20). There was no difference in the reported prevalence of SD between the 33 females with CHD and 19 controls (27% vs. 30%, p=0.76) or in any of the domains of SD. Conclusion Sexual dysfunction was more common in males with CHD than controls, although there were no differences among females with CHD and controls. However, given that approximately one in five male and one in four female adults with CHD in our study reported sexual dysfunction, this warrantee increased empirical and clinical attention.