Sexual Activity and Function in the Year After an Acute Myocardial Infarction Among Younger Women and Men in the United States and Spain

Abstract

Importance: Most younger adults who experience an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) are sexually active before the AMI, but little is known about sexual activity or sexual function after the event.

Objective: To describe patterns of sexual activity and function and identify indicators of the probability of loss of sexual activity in the year after AMI.

Design, setting, and participants: Data from the prospective, multicenter, longitudinal Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients study (conducted from August 21, 2008, to January 5, 2012) were assessed at baseline, 1 month, and 1 year. Participants were from US (n = 103) and Spanish (n = 24) hospitals and completed baseline and all follow-up interviews. Data analysis for the present study was conducted from October 15, 2014, to June 6, 2016. Characteristics associated with loss of sexual activity were assessed using multinomial logistic regression analyses.

Main outcomes and measures: Loss of sexual activity after AMI.

Results: Of the 2802 patients included in the analysis, 1889 were women (67.4%); median (25th-75th percentile) age was 49 (44-52) years (range, 18-55 years). At all time points, 637 (40.4%) of women and 437 (54.9%) of men were sexually active. Among people who were active at baseline, men were more likely than women to have resumed sexual activity by 1 month (448 [63.9%] vs 661 [54.5%]; P < .001) and by 1 year (662 [94.4%] vs 1107 [91.3%]; P = .01) after AMI. Among people who were sexually active before and after AMI, women were less likely than men to report no sexual function problems in the year after the event (466 [40.3%] vs 382 [54.8%]; P < .01). In addition, more women than men (211 [41.9%] vs 107 [30.5%]; P < .01) with no baseline sexual problems developed 1 or more incident problems in the year after the AMI. At 1 year, the most prevalent sexual problems were lack of interest (487 [39.6%]) and trouble lubricating (273 [22.3%]) among women and erectile difficulties (156 [21.7%]) and lack of interest (137 [18.8%]) among men. Those who had not communicated with a physician about sex in the first month after AMI were more likely to delay resuming sex (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.51; 95% CI, 1.11-2.05; P = .008). Higher stress levels (AOR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.01-1.83) and having diabetes (AOR, 1.90; 95% CI, 1.15-3.13) were significant indicators of the probability of loss of sexual activity in the year after the AMI.

Conclusions and relevance: Impaired sexual activity and incident sexual function problems were prevalent and more common among young women than men in the year after AMI. Attention to modifiable risk factors and physician counseling may improve outcomes.

Figure 1

Enrollment and Follow-Up of VIRGO Participants by Gender and Country

Figure 2. Patterns of partnership, resumption of sexual activity, patient-physician communication about sexual activity and sexual problems, by gender

Figure 2a. Partnership at baseline, one month, and one year, by gender Figure 2b. Sexual activity at baseline, one month, and one year, by gender Figure 2c. Patient-physician communication about sex at one month and one year, by gender Figure 2d. Sexual problems at baseline and one year, by gender

Figure 2. Patterns of partnership, resumption of sexual activity, patient-physician communication about sexual activity and sexual problems, by gender

Figure 2a. Partnership at baseline, one month, and one year, by gender Figure 2b. Sexual activity at baseline, one month, and one year, by gender Figure 2c. Patient-physician communication about sex at one month and one year, by gender Figure 2d. Sexual problems at baseline and one year, by gender

Figure 2. Patterns of partnership, resumption of sexual activity, patient-physician communication about sexual activity and sexual problems, by gender

Figure 2a. Partnership at baseline, one month, and one year, by gender Figure 2b. Sexual activity at baseline, one month, and one year, by gender Figure 2c. Patient-physician communication about sex at one month and one year, by gender Figure 2d. Sexual problems at baseline and one year, by gender

Figure 2. Patterns of partnership, resumption of sexual activity, patient-physician communication about sexual activity and sexual problems, by gender

Figure 2a. Partnership at baseline, one month, and one year, by gender Figure 2b. Sexual activity at baseline, one month, and one year, by gender Figure 2c. Patient-physician communication about sex at one month and one year, by gender Figure 2d. Sexual problems at baseline and one year, by gender