The role of sexual satisfaction, age, and cardiac risk factors in the reduction of post-MI anxiety.

BACKGROUND: Anxiety is common after myocardial infarction (MI); however, little is known about the role of sexual satisfaction and return to sexual activity on anxiety post-MI. AIM: To examine the role of sexual satisfaction in reducing anxiety post-MI. METHODS: Patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) recruited from one U.S. medical center completed questionnaires at baseline while hospitalized and at 1, 3, and 5 months post-MI. This analysis includes 64 patients compared on low or high anxiety at 5 months post-MI using sexual satisfaction and selected demographic and clinical variables in the analysis. RESULTS: Patients with high anxiety scores reported lower sexual satisfaction (p < .001) and a higher percentage of coronary risk factors (p < .01). The OLS regression model provided similar results with an adjusted R-square of .422, accounting for approximately 42% of anxiety (p < .001). Sexual satisfaction accounted for the most variance in the model, showing an inverse relationship between sexual satisfaction and anxiety. An inverse relationship also existed between age and anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Anxiety is common after MI, and decreased sexual satisfaction appears to contribute to heightened anxiety. Attention to sexual concerns of MI patients before and after hospital discharge may improve psychosocial outcomes.