The aim of this study was to investigate sexual functioning in men and women with pulmonary hypertension. The initiative to undertake this study was taken some years ago by members of the Board of Stichting Pulmonale Hypertensie, the Dutch Pulmonary Hypertension Association, who asked healthcare professionals to address the issue of sexuality in relation to pulmonary hypertension. The Board had received feedback from patients expressing that insufficient attention was being given to the subject of sexuality in relation to pulmonary hypertension. In response to this the Erasmus MC, together with the Antonius hospital, conducted a study on a total of 78 patients, 49 of which with pulmonary arterial hypertension and 29 with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (median age 53, 67% female). This study showed that >50% of the patients experience complaints of sexual dysfunction, mainly dyspnea, chest pain and palpitations, and that 67% of all patients committed in a relationship indicated that they would like to discuss sexuality to be discussed with their health care provider during consultations. Medication was not associated with sexual dysfunction.
Citation
Hendriks, P.M., Staal, D.P., Pastoor, H. et al. Sexual function is impaired in women and men with pulmonary hypertension. Clin Res Cardiol (2023), published 30 April 2023, DOI https://doi.org/10.1007/s00392-023-02214-3
Full text of the Clinical Research in Cardiology article is available at this link
Read article by the Dutch Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Stichting Pulmonale Hypertensie at this link
Image courtesy of the Dutch Pulmonary Hypertension Association, Stichting
Pulmonale Hypertensie