Sexual activity cardiological survey on members of the Israel Heart Society

Abstract

A nationwide telephone survey conducted under the auspices of the Israeli Heart Society examined cardiologists' knowledge of and attitudes towards sexual activity among cardiac patients with concomitant sexual dysfunction. The items covered demography, understanding of relevant mechanisms, drug effects and cardiovascular physiology during sexual activity, suitable interventions and sources of the cardiologists' knowledge. Compliance was excellent (364/379 [96%] responders). Attitudes and knowledge were similar among males and females: 74% underestimated the published frequency of erectile dysfunction in general and among cardiac patients specifically; 90% knew that beta-blockers cause erectile dysfunction but few responded correctly about other non-cardiac drugs; 77% try to cope with their patient's problematic sexual function, especially younger cardiologists who tended to be more up to date about it. Israeli cardiologists are motivated to assist these patients but demonstrate a general lack of adequate up to date knowledge on the epidemiological, physiological and pharmacological aspects of the problem.