Factors associated with sexual quality of life in patients before and after coronary artery bypass grafting surgery.

Background: Successful rehabilitation of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) should include psychosocial outcomes such as sexual activity. However, little has been reported regarding the sexual quality of life of patients after CABG.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the associations of demographic and disease characteristics, psychosocial factors, and sexual quality of life in patients before and after CABG surgery.

Methods: A longitudinal, descriptive design was used. A convenient sample of 70 patients with a diagnosis of coronary artery disease and under preparation for CABG surgery was recruited from the cardiovascular units of a medical center in central Taiwan. Participants were interviewed and completed a structured questionnaire before and 3 months after CABG surgery. Instruments used included EuroSCORE (European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation), Sexual Knowledge Scale, Spouse Communication Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Perceived health status, and Sexual Quality of Life Scale.

Results: Sexual desire and sexual response of patients were significantly limited after CABG. Before surgery, age, disease duration, and spouse communication were all significant predictors, which explained 33.8% of the variance in the sexual quality-of-life scores. Significant predictors after surgery included sexual knowledge, disease duration, and EuroSCORE, which accounted for 25.6% of the variance of sexual quality of life.

Conclusion: This study confirms that CABG surgery may have an impact on patients' sexual quality of life. With the numbers of CABG patients increasing, development of appropriate sexual counseling for cardiac patients is necessary to improve their sexual quality of life.