Prevalence of sexual dysfunction in women with pulmonary hypertension and associated factors.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary hypertension is a progressive, and disabling disease, however, there is little knowledge about impaired sexual function in this population. AIM: To identify the prevalence of sexual dysfunction and the association between sexual dysfunction level and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics. METHODS: A cross-sectional study with 71 women diagnosed with pulmonary hypertension without signs of clinical decompensation was carried out. Sexual function was assessed using the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI) and functional capacity was assessed by 6-minute walk test. The relationships between sociodemographic and clinical characteristics with sexual function was performed using statistical tests. A p-value <0.05 was considered as significant. RESULTS: 71.8% of patients self-reported sexual dysfunction as indicated as a score of <26.55 points on FSFI. Women with sexual dysfunction were older, higher average age of their last menstruation, had worse functional class, shorter distance covered and worse Borg score at the end of the 6-minute walk test. CONCLUSION: There is evident impairment of sexual function self-reported by women with pH and the association of this condition with a decline in functional capacity was identified.

Inspiratory muscle weakness contributes to exertional dyspnea in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.

Determination of potentially-reversible factors contributing to exertional dyspnea remains an unmet clinical need in chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH). Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the influence of inspiratory muscle weakness (IMW) on exercise capacity and dyspnea during effort in patients with CTEPH. We performed a prospective cross-sectional study that included thirty-nine consecutive patients with CTEPH (48 ± 15 yrs, 61% female) confirmed by right heart catheterization that underwent an incremental cardiopulmonary exercise test, 6-minute walk test and maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) measurement. MIP < 70%pred was found in 46% of patients. On a multiple linear regression analysis, MIP was independently associated with 6MWD and [Formula: see text]. Patients with MIP < 70% presented greater [Formula: see text] than those with MIP ≥ 70%. Additionally, they also presented stronger sensations of dyspnea throughout exercise, even when adjusted for ventilation. At rest and at different levels of exercise, mean inspiratory flow (VT/TI) was significantly higher in patients with MIP < 70%. In conclusion, IMW is associated with a rapid increase of dyspnea, higher inspiratory load and poor exercise capacity in patients with CTEPH.