Abstract P285: Frequency of Sexual Activity the Year before Myocardial Infarction and Risk for Subsequent Cardiovascular Adverse Events: Results of a Long-Term Follow-Up Study

Introduction: Sexual activity (SA) is an important component of quality of life and of concern for many patients with myocardial infarction (MI). Available data showed that the frequency of SA decreased one year after an MI, however, the general patterns were relatively stable overall. Although SA may be a trigger of an MI in very few cases, the association between SA before MI and the onset of a subsequent adverse cardiovascular disease event (CVD-event) has not been evaluated so far. Hypothesis: Frequency of SA during the 12-months prior to an MI is not associated with risk of subsequent adverse CVD-event. Methods: Prospective cohort study in CHD patients aged 30-70 years undergoing an in-patient rehabilitation program after an incident MI due to CHD. SA frequency (including masturbation) during the 12-months prior to the MI was evaluated by means of a standardized questionnaire. A Cox-proportional hazards model was used to determine the association of frequency of SA on subsequent adverse CVD-events (nonfatal and fatal MI, stroke, cardiovascular death) during ten-year follow-up after adjustment for age, gender, school education, rehabilitation clinic, smoking status, history of diabetes mellitus, left-ventricular function HDL-cholesterol. Results and Conclusions: The mean age of the included 536 patients with an incident MI was 57.1 years (SD 8.6) at baseline, 85.8% were men. Self-reported SA in the 12-months before the MI was none for n=80, less than 1 time per month for n=25 (both grouped in one category), less than 1 time per week for n=136, and one or more times per week for n=295. Sexual more active patients were on average younger, more often men, had less often diabetes and a less severe coronary vessel disease. They were also more often physical active in leisure time compared to others. During ten-year follow up (median 9.97 years) n=100 adverse CVD-events occurred (overall 23.9 events per 1000 patient years). When compared to patients with less than one time SA per week (reference group) patients with at least one SA per week had a Hazard ratio (HR) of 0.49 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.31-0.77) in the multivariable analysis; adding leisure time physical activity practiced 12-months prior to the MI into this final model did not change the results. Additional adjustment for Nt-proBNP level at baseline did not alter the result. In conclusion, a weekly SA activity pattern in the year prior to an acute MI is not associated with a higher risk for subsequent adverse cardiovascular events.