Relationship between sleep disorders and erectile dysfunction, depression and quality of life in male patients with systolic heart failure

Background and Purpose: Identification of the effects of sleep disturbances on the quality of life could result in proper treatment of patients with heart failure. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between sleep disorders and erectile dysfunction, depression and quality of life in male patients with systolic heart failure. Methods: This correlational study was conducted on 100 male patients with systolic heart failure selected by convenience sampling. Data were collected using Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), STOP-Bang questionnaire, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Minnesota Living with Heart Failure questionnaire (MLHFQ), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5). Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation-coefficient and linear regression model. Results: In this study, sleep quality (P<0.001) and possibility of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) (P=0.001) were significantly associated with depression and could explain 32.6% of variance in depression. In addition, possibility of OSA (P=0.006) was associated with erectile dysfunction and could explain 12% of variance in erectile dysfunction. Also, possibility of OSA (P=0.001) and sleep quality (P<0.001) had a statistically significant correlation with quality of life and could explain 36% of variance in quality of life. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, poor sleep quality and sleep-disordered breathing were negatively correlated with mood, sexual function and overall quality of life in male patients with systolic heart failure. Therefore, proper screening and treatment of sleep disorders in patients with heart failure is of paramount importance.