AHA 2024: Patients With Cardiovascular Conditions Want More Guidance About Sexual Health

New research being presented at the American Heart Association (AHA) 2024 Scientific Sessions found that patients with cardiovascular conditions want more guidance on sexual health from their health care team, noting that there are discrepancies between the information they seek and what is typically provided.¹

Sexual health is a broad term, but it has significant impacts on overall health and happiness. According to the World Health Organization, sexual health impacts individuals, families, and the development of broader communities and countries.²

Couple talking with a pharmacist | Image credit: © Chinnapong | stock.adobe.com

Additionally, sexual health has significant impacts on broader physical health. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, research suggests that men who have sex at least twice a week and women who report having satisfying sex lives are less likely to experience a heart attack. These protective benefits can be attributed to the fact that sex is a form of exercise and helps strengthen the heart, lower blood pressure, reduce stress, and improve sleep.³

Importantly, however, patients who have cardiovascular conditions often have questions about safe sexual practices. A survey of 133 older adults in Sweden aged 30 to 89 (with an average age of 65) with high blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms, heart failure, or a previous heart attack inquired about their access to sexual health information and perceived connections with heart health. Recruitment was done through patient organizations, clinical outpatient departments, and social media.¹

The survey found that the topics patients wanted to discuss included adverse effects of medications (60%), erectile dysfunction (50%), impact on relationships (47%), anxiety before sex (35%), and, for women, pain during sex (13%). Notably, the patients most favored conversations with health care professionals (79%) and/or receiving information at various times from different sources (43%).¹

Importantly, there were significant discrepancies between the information patients needed and the information they received. The survey found that 78% of respondents wanted information on sexual health, but only 5% received it. Additionally, 76% of respondents said sexual health affects their mood and well-being, and men more often desired information on sexual health than women (87% vs 64%).¹

Furthermore, 65% of men believed their heart disease impacted their sexual health, whereas 35% of women said the same.¹

“That so many heart patients feel it actually affects their sexual health was surprising to us, even though it’s been known for a while that this topic is not routinely discussed with heart patients,” Tiny Jaarsma, PhD, a professor of nursing at the University of Linkoping in Sweden, said in a news release. “There is not much information published specifically for patients with heart disease. People may also worry about the trustworthiness of many internet sources.”¹

Community pharmacists are playing an increasing role in sexual and reproductive health services and can provide that trustworthy information to patients. A review of 41 studies found that pharmacists’ delivery of sexual and reproductive health services was not only feasible, but it can also improve access for vulnerable and high-risk groups. Patients were also highly receptive to pharmacists’ counseling, and interventions were highly accepted and valued. However, researchers noted that integration into daily workflow, policies and regulations, pharmacist reimbursement, and cost for patients are all barriers.⁴

“I believe the health care professionals should change their patients standards to make discussing sexual health a standard and respectable topic in health care settings,” Jaarsma said in the news release. “This way, every person with heart disease would receive information or at least be encouraged to seek information about their sexual health. Currently, we are asking questions like ‘Are you vaccinated? Do you have a healthy diet? Do you exercise?’ We should also address sexual health as a routine topic of discussion, just like any other health concern.”¹

AHA recommendations currently suggest that individuals who have experienced a heart attack or have been diagnosed with heart disease and stroke should consult a health care professional before resuming sexual activity.¹

REFERENCES

1. Let’s talk about sex: Heart patients want guidance from health care professionals. News release. American Heart Association. November 11, 2024. Accessed November 14, 2024. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/lets-talk-about-sex-heart-patients-want-guidance-from-health-care-professionals?preview=070d&preview_mode=True

2. Sexual Health. World Health Organization. Accessed November 14, 2024. https://www.who.int/health-topics/sexual-health#tab=tab_1

3. Is Sex Dangerous If You Have Heart Disease? Johns Hopkins Medicine. Accessed November 14, 2024. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/is-sex-dangerous-if-you-have-heart-disease#:~:text=Studies%20suggest%20that%20men%20who,reduce%20stress%20and%20improve%20sleep

4. Navarrete J, Yuksel N, Schindel TJ, Hughes CA. Sexual and reproductive health services provided by community pharmacists: a scoping review. BMJ Open. 2021;11(7):e047034. doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-047034