Acta clinica Croatica, Vol. 57. No. 1., 2018.
Review article
https://doi.org/10.20471/acc.2018.57.01.18
Sexual Activity in Patients with Cardiac Diseases
Marko Mornar Jelavić
; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; 3School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Goran Krstačić
; Institute for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation, Zagreb, Croatia; 3School of Medicine, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Aleksandra Perenčević
; Department of Internal Medicine and Dialysis, Zagreb-East Health Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Hrvoje Pintarić
; School of Dental Medicine, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Centre, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
In this article, we outline the latest guidelines published by the American Heart Association on sexual activity in patients with coronary artery disease, heart failure, structural heart diseases, arrhythmias, implanted pacemakers or cardioverter defibrillators, as well as on treatment options of sexual dysfunction. Sexual activities are similar to mild/moderate physical activity during a short period. Most patients are recommended to involve in sexual activity after prior comprehensive evaluation of physical condition. Those with stable cardiac symptoms and good functional capacity are at a low risk of adverse cardiovascular events, and others require treatment or stabilization before involving in sexual activity. Stress testing is useful in evaluating safety of sexual activity in patients with questionable or undetermined risk. Treatment of sexual dysfunction includes counseling of patients and their sexual partners, and drug treatment with phosphodiesterase inhibitors (sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil) which have been demonstrated to be safe and effective, in men, and with serotonin reuptake inhibitors (flibanserin) and local vaginal estrogen administration in women. In conclusion, in routine clinical practice, patients should be approached individually and multidisciplinarily in order to detect and eliminate the factors that interfere with normal sexual activities and disturb the quality of life.
Keywords
Cardiovascular diseases; Sexual dysfunction, physiological – drug therapy; Sexual behavior; Quality of life
Hrčak ID:
202208
URI
Publication date:
1.3.2018.
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