Sexual Quality of Life in Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients and Their Partners

Johanna S van Zyl; Catherine Shelton; Komal Alam; Lesia Parker; Aayla K Jamil; Joost Felius; Christo Mathew; Sandra A Carey; Christine Funk; Ann Marie Warren; Susan M Joseph; Shelley A Hall; Amit Alam

doi:10.1016/j.cardfail.2024.04.020

Sexual Quality of Life in Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients and Their Partners

J Card Fail. 2024 May 14:S1071-9164(24)00158-1. doi: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2024.04.020. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health, Dallas, TX; Texas A&M University College of Medicine Health Science Center, Dallas, TX.
² Center for Advanced Heart and Lung Disease, Baylor University Medical Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Dallas, TX.
³ Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, Baylor Scott & White Health, Dallas, TX.
⁴ Texas A&M University College of Medicine Health Science Center, Dallas, TX.
⁵ Baylor University Medical Center, Dallas, Texas.
⁶ Trauma Research Center, Baylor Scott & White Research Institute, Dallas, TX.
⁷ Texas A&M University College of Medicine Health Science Center, Dallas, TX; Center for Advanced Heart and Lung Disease, Baylor University Medical Center, Baylor Scott & White Health, Dallas, TX.
⁸ Division of Cardiology, New York University Langone Health, New York, NY. Electronic address: Amit.alam@nyulangone.org.

PMID: 38754697
DOI: 10.1016/j.cardfail.2024.04.020

Abstract

Introduction: Living with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) comes with potentially burdensome aspects posed by e.g. battery packs and device drivelines. We aim to describe the impact of living with a durable LVAD on sexual quality of life (QOL), depression, and anxiety in patients and their partners.

Methods: In this single-center, prospective, observational study, patients ≥4 months post-LVAD implantation and their partners completed the Sexual Activities in Left Ventricular Assist Device Patients or Partners (SALVADOR) questionnaire to assess their sexual QOL, the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8) to assess symptoms of depression and the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) to assess symptoms of anxiety.

Results: 60 patients and 60 partners completed the questionnaires 2.3 ± 1.9 years post-implantation. 87% patients and 13% partners were male. The mean age of patients was 57.4 ± 13.3 years with 90% living with their partner. 10% of patients and 18% of partners had a current diagnosis of a psychological condition, most frequently depression and/or anxiety. Overall, 49% of participants indicated the LVAD influenced their sexual activity (patients 53% vs. partners 45%, p=0.33). Disturbances from the driveline were the most common problem indicated. 24% of participants had scored in the mild to moderate depression range on the PHQ-8 and 28% scored in the mild to severe anxiety range on the GAD-7. The median total GAD-7 (1 [0, 4.25] vs. 2.5 [0, 5], p=0.06) were comparable between patients and partners; whereas patients had a higher total PHQ-8 score (3 [0, 5.25] vs. 1 [0, 3.25], p=0.02). A preference to receive information regarding sexuality while on LVAD support was indicated by 54% of participants and did not differ between patients and partners (p>0.99). Written resources were the most commonly preferred source of information.

Conclusion: LVADs severely affect the sexual QOL for patients and their partners. The presence of a driveline is a major cause for concern. Patients prefer receiving written information on how to improve their sexual QOL.