Sexual and mental health of patients with cardiovascular disease: A review

Abstract

More than 4,000,000 people die from cardiovascular diseases in Europe every year. Even though a significant reduction in mortality of patients suffering from heart and blood vessels disorders can be observed across the continent, a number of hospitalizations in this group constantly increase. Large disparities in the assessment of population's health awareness, prevention activities and the availability of specialized treatment between different regions of Europe are still recognized with the highest incidence rates in Central Europe, Eastern Europe and the countries of the former Soviet Union. Both researchers and clinicians pay increasingly more attention to the cardiac patients’ quality of life. It determines not only the daily physical, mental and social functioning, but also a general response to the further treatment conducted in outpatients clinic. Sexuality is an integral part of the human personality. Disorders appearing in the area make it difficult to fully achieve the comprehensive well-being from the individual, interpersonal and social dimension. Reduction of satisfaction and decrease in sexual activity are commonly observed in cardiac patients and frequently associated with depression and anxiety disorders. Older age, pharmacological treatment, and variety of cardiovascular risk factors (diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, physical inactivity, smoking) also negatively influence sexual functioning. Thus, cardiac rehabilitation programs must be designed in a way to include recommendations regarding clinical management of sexual dysfunction, improving functional capacity, quality of life, morbidity and mortality of the patients with cardiovascular disease across Europe. Psychiatric assessment and general psychological well-being appraisal seem to be inseparable in these regards.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.