ABSTRACT
Patients with ischemic heart disease [IHD] may report difficulties with sexual function and marital relationship. However, there is a dearth of studies focusing on the association between these aspects in IHD patients. The present study sought to assess the association between sexual function and marital relationship among IHD patients and also test the effect modification of gender, education level, and marital distress on the above association. In this cross-sectional study, 551 patients with IHD were enrolled and their sexual function and marital relationship quality were assessed with the Relation and Sexuality Scale [RSS] and Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale [RDAS], respectively. Association between marital relationship quality and sexual function was assessed with respect to gender, education level, and marital distress. Most participants [72%] were men at a mean age of 57 +/- 11 [range = 36-80] years. Total sexual function was significantly correlated with total marital quality [r = -0.28], marital consensus [r = -0.17], marital coherence [r = -0.19], marital affection expression [r = -0.22], and marital satisfaction [r = -0.25]. Total marital quality also showed a significant association with sexual fear [r = -0.11]. These associations were moderated by gender, education level, and marital distress level. Among the IHD patients, sexual function and marital relationship quality showed a mild to moderate association. Association between sexual function and marital relationship quality, however, may depend on gender, education level, and marital distress level
ABSTRACT
The atherosclerosis of left anterior descending [LAD] coronary artery because of subtending more than 50% of left ventricular myocardial mass, has long been the focus of concern regarding appropriate treatment. This study aimed to evaluate efficacy of Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty [PTCA] with stenting for treatment of proximal LAD disease. In this descriptive study, 75 patients with isolated proximal LAD atherosclerotic lesion treated with PTCA and stenting were followed up for 9 months. The stenosis of all patients was documented by coronary angiography prior to enrollment. Exercise tolerance testing [ETT] by Bruce protocol was performed before angioplasty and at the end of follow up period as well. There were 44 [58.7%] males, and 31 [41.3%] females. The mean age of patients was 59.4 [range, 39 to 83 yrs]. Clinical outcomes of 73 [97.3%] patients were satisfactory. Only two patients developed re-stenosis during the follow up period. The first patient developed myocardial infarction at the 3rd day of her admission, and the second one had an abnormal ETT after 9 months. Percutaneous coronary revascularization with stenting was performed, and both of them were discharged without any problem. This study demostrated that the nine months prognosis of patients with isolated stenosis of proximal LAD coronary artery that treated by PTCA and stenting was acceptable. This treatment improves clinical status and results in lower hospital adverse event rates and in appropriate clinical outcome