Cardiology · 2 h ago
Heart failure study links dyspnea severity with sexual inactivity
A national questionnaire study of 1,398 people with heart failure examined sexual activity, symptoms and unmet care needs. Sexual inactivity was more common with severe dyspnea, while most respondents had never discussed sexuality with their cardiologist.
- Sexual inactivity rose with dyspnea severity.
- Severe dyspnea independently predicted sexual inactivity.
- Most respondents had never discussed sexuality with a cardiologist.
The ROMANT’IC study was a national descriptive questionnaire study of 1,398 adults with heart failure (HF), including 921 men and 477 women, aged 18–93 years. Detailed responses were provided by 655 participants. The study assessed sexual activity, reported difficulties and whether patients had discussed sexuality with their cardiologist.
In the previous three months, 57.8% of men and 53.7% of women reported no sexual activity. Inactivity increased with dyspnea severity, from 47.8% among those with Grade 1 dyspnea to 79.0% among those with Grades 3–4. Severe dyspnea independently predicted inactivity (OR 3.88, 95% CI 2.26–6.64); age and sex were not significant after adjustment. Men commonly reported erectile dysfunction (49.0%), while women commonly reported loss of desire (65.4%). Across groups, 72–80% had never discussed sexuality with a cardiologist.
The findings highlight reported sexual health concerns and limited communication in HF care. The questionnaire design and incomplete detailed-response rate limit interpretation, and the study does not establish that treating dyspnea improves sexual activity. The authors call for age- and gender-sensitive counselling, but the findings alone do not establish a specific counselling approach or change to treatment.
In practice
For adults with heart failure, the study identifies sexual health as a frequently unaddressed concern: most respondents had never discussed it with a cardiologist, and sexual inactivity was associated with greater dyspnea severity. These descriptive questionnaire findings may support clinicians raising the topic as part of HF care, but they do not show that counselling or dyspnea treatment improves sexual outcomes. Detailed responses came from 655 of 1,398 participants, so response and disclosure patterns may limit how broadly the results apply.
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ESC Heart Failure: Sexual Health in Heart Failure: How Age, Sex, and Dyspnea Interact to Shape Intimacy and Unmet Clinical Needs ↗This is an automated AI-condensed summary that has not yet been reviewed by an editor. Always consult the full item at the original source.