Patient perspectives on priorities for research on conventional and sex- and gender-related cardiovascular risk factors

Abstract Background Recently, cardiovascular disease (CVD) research has focused on sex- and gender-related cardiovascular risk factors, in addition to conventional risk factors. This raises the question which factors are perceived by the target group (patients with CVD) as priorities for further research. Methods We carried out a survey to study priority setting for more research into conventional and sex- and gender-related risk factors according to 980 men and women with CVD or those at increased risk of CVD in the Netherlands. Data on conventional and sex- and gender-related risk factors were descriptively analysed, stratified by gender group. Results The most frequently prioritised conventional factors according to men were heritability, overweight and unhealthy diet, while women most frequently listed stress, heritability and hypertension. The most frequently prioritised sex- and gender-related risk factors were depression or depressive feelings, migraine and having many caretaking responsibilities (men), and pregnancy complications, contraceptive pill use and early age at menopause (women). New research on sex- and gender-related risk factors was perceived roughly as relevant as that on conventional factors by men (mean 7.4 and 8.3 on a 1–10 scale, respectively) and women (8.2 and 8.6, respectively). Ethnic and gender minority groups placed more emphasis on risk factors related to sociocultural aspects (gender) than the majority group. Conclusion Men and women with CVD or those at increased risk of CVD perceived new research on conventional and sex- and gender-related risk factors as a priority. These findings may guide researchers and funders in further prioritising new CVD research.

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Premature STEMI in Men and Women: Current Clinical Features and Improvements in Management and Prognosis

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10061314 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 1314

Author(s):

Rebeca Lorca ◽

Isaac Pascual ◽

Andrea Aparicio ◽

Alejandro Junco-Vicente ◽

Rut Alvarez-Velasco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

General Population ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Young Women ◽

Artery Dissection ◽

Men And Women ◽

High Prevalence

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most frequent cause of ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Etiopathogenic and prognostic characteristics in young patients may differ from older patients and young women may present worse outcomes than men. We aimed to evaluate the clinical characteristics and prognosis of men and women with premature STEMI. Methods: A total 1404 consecutive patients were referred to our institution for emergency cardiac catheterization due to STEMI suspicion (1 January 2014–31 December 2018). Patients with confirmed premature (<55 years old in men and <60 in women) STEMI (366 patients, 83% men and 17% women) were included (359 atherothrombotic and 7 spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)). Results: Premature STEMI patients had a high prevalence of classical cardiovascular risk factors. Mean follow-up was 4.1 years (±1.75 SD). Mortality rates, re-hospitalization, and hospital stay showed no significant differences between sexes. More than 10% of women with premature STEMI suffered SCAD. There were no significant differences between sexes, neither among cholesterol levels nor in hypolipemiant therapy. The global survival rates were similar to that expected in the general population of the same sex and age in our region with a significantly higher excess of mortality at 6 years among men compared with the general population. Conclusion: Our results showed a high incidence of cardiovascular risk factors, a high prevalence of SCAD among young women, and a generally good prognosis after standardized treatment. During follow-up, 23% suffered a major cardiovascular event (MACE), without significant differences between sexes and observed survival at 1, 3, and 6 years of follow-up was 96.57% (95% CI 94.04–98.04), 95.64% (95% CI 92.87–97.35), and 94.5% (95% CI 91.12–97.66). An extra effort to prevent/delay STEMI should be invested focusing on smoking avoidance and optimal hypolipemiant treatment both in primary and secondary prevention.

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Association between ApoE ε4 Carrier Status and Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Mild Cognitive Impairment among Mexican Older Adults

Brain Sciences ◽

10.3390/brainsci11010068 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 68

Author(s):

Sara G. Aguilar-Navarro ◽

Itzel I. Gonzalez-Aparicio ◽

José Alberto Avila-Funes ◽

Teresa Juárez-Cedillo ◽

Teresa Tusié-Luna ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Older Adults ◽

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Apoe Genotype ◽

Carrier Status ◽

Apoe Ε4 ◽

Increased Risk

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) (amnestic or non-amnestic) has different clinical and neuropsychological characteristics, and its evolution is heterogeneous. Cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF), such as hypertension, diabetes, or dyslipidemia, and the presence of the Apolipoprotein E ε4 (ApoE ε4) polymorphism have been associated with an increased risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and other dementias but the relationship is inconsistent worldwide. We aimed to establish the association between the ApoE ε4 carrier status and CVRF on MCI subtypes (amnestic and non-amnestic) in Mexican older adults. Cross-sectional study including 137 older adults (n = 63 with normal cognition (NC), n = 24 with amnesic, and n = 50 with non-amnesic MCI). Multinomial logistic regression models were performed in order to determine the association between ApoE ε4 polymorphism carrier and CVRF on amnestic and non-amnestic-MCI. ApoE ε4 carrier status was present in 28.8% participants. The models showed that ApoE ε4 carrier status was not associated neither aMCI nor naMCI condition. The interaction term ApoE ε4 × CVRF was not statistically significant for both types of MCI. However, CVRF were associated with both types of MCI and the association remained statistically significant after adjustment by sex, age, and education level. The carrier status of the ApoE genotype does not contribute to this risk.

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The Role of Antioxidants Supplementation in Clinical Practice: Focus on Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Antioxidants ◽

10.3390/antiox10020146 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 146

Author(s):

Vittoria Cammisotto ◽

Cristina Nocella ◽

Simona Bartimoccia ◽

Valerio Sanguigni ◽

Davide Francomano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Antioxidant Supplementation ◽

Oxidative Stress Biomarkers ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Human Disorders ◽

Stress Burden

Oxidative stress may be defined as an imbalance between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant system to counteract or detoxify these potentially damaging molecules. This phenomenon is a common feature of many human disorders, such as cardiovascular disease. Many of the risk factors, including smoking, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, diabetes, and obesity, are associated with an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, involving an elevated oxidative stress burden (either due to enhanced ROS production or decreased antioxidant protection). There are many therapeutic options to treat oxidative stress-associated cardiovascular diseases. Numerous studies have focused on the utility of antioxidant supplementation. However, whether antioxidant supplementation has any preventive and/or therapeutic value in cardiovascular pathology is still a matter of debate. In this review, we provide a detailed description of oxidative stress biomarkers in several cardiovascular risk factors. We also discuss the clinical implications of the supplementation with several classes of antioxidants, and their potential role for protecting against cardiovascular risk factors.

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Sex-specific reference values and determinants of infra-renal abdominal aortic diameter among women and men from general population

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/ehjci/ehaa946.2841 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽

Author(s):

F Zhu ◽

B Arshi ◽

M Ikram ◽

R De Knegt ◽

M Kavousi

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

General Population ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Reference Values ◽

Aortic Diameter ◽

Funding Source ◽

Men And Women ◽

Abdominal Aortic

Abstract Introduction Abdominal aortic diameter has shown to be a marker of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Among the non-aneurysmal populations, studies regarding abdominal aortic diameter normal reference values are sparse. Moreover, data regarding the associations between cardiovascular risk factors and aortic diameter among men and women are limited. Purpose To establish age- and sex-specific distribution of the infra-renal abdominal aortic diameters among non-aneurysmal older adults from the general population and to investigate the associations between cardiovascular risk factors and aortic diameters in men and women. Methods From a population-based cohort, 4032 participants (mean age, 67.2 years; 60.4% women) with infra-renal diameter assessment and without history of cardiovascular disease were included. Mean and quantile values of diameters were calculated in different age groups. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to detect the association of cardiovascular risk factors with diameters in men and women. Results The mean crude diameter was larger in men [mean (SD): 19.5 (2.6) mm] compared to women [17.0 (2.4)mm] but after adjustment for body surface area (BSA), the differences were small. There was a non-linear relationship between age and diameter (p<0.001). After 66 years of age, the increase in diameter with increasing age was attenuated. After age 74 years in women and 71 years in men, the relationship between age and infra-renal aortic diameter was no longer statistically significant (Figure). Waist [standardized β (95% CI): 0.02 (0.0–0.04) in women and 0.03 (0.01–0.06) in men] and diastolic blood pressure [0.04 (0.02–0.05) in women and 0.02 (0.0–0.04) in men] were the risk factors for diameters in both sexes. Body mass index [0.02 (0.01–0.09)], systolic blood pressure [−0.01 (−0.02 to −0.01)], smoking status [0.21 (0.02–0.39)], cholesterol [−0.19 (−0.29 to −0.09)], and lipid-lowering medication [−0.47 (−0.71 to −0.23)] were significantly associated with aortic diameter only in women. Conclusion The differences in the crude abdominal aortic diameter between women and men diminished after taking into account the BSA. The abdominal aortic diameter increased steeply with advancing age and up to 66 years of age. However, after 74 years in women and 71 years in men, the diameter values reached a plateau. We also observed sex differences in the associations of cardiovascular risk factors with abdominal aortic diameter. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): Netherlands Organization for the Health Research and Development (ZonMw); the Research Institute for Diseases in the Elderly (RIDE)

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Influence of methyltestosterone postmenopausal therapy on plasma lipids, inflammatory factors, glucose metabolism and visceral fat: a randomized study

Acta Endocrinologica ◽

10.1530/eje.1.02065 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 154 (1) ◽

pp. 131-139 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

Lenora M Camarate S M Leão ◽

Mônica Peres C Duarte ◽

Dalva Margareth B Silva ◽

Paulo Roberto V Bahia ◽

Cláudia Medina Coeli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Insulin Resistance ◽

Blood Pressure ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Postmenopausal Women ◽

Fat Mass ◽

Visceral Fat ◽

Increased Risk

Background: There has been a growing interest in treating postmenopausal women with androgens. However, hyperandrogenemia in females has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Objective: We aimed to assess the effects of androgen replacement on cardiovascular risk factors. Design: Thirty-seven postmenopausal women aged 42–62 years that had undergone hysterectomy were prospectively enrolled in a double-blind protocol to receive, for 12 months, percutaneous estradiol (E2) (1 mg/day) combined with either methyltestosterone (MT) (1.25 mg/day) or placebo. Methods: Along with treatment, we evaluated serum E2, testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), free androgen index, lipids, fibrinogen, and C-reactive protein; glucose tolerance; insulin resistance; blood pressure; body-mass index; and visceral and subcutaneous abdominal fat mass as assessed by computed tomography. Results: A significant reduction in SHBG (P < 0.001) and increase in free testosterone index (P < 0.05; Repeated measures analysis of variance) were seen in the MT group. Total cholesterol, triglycerides, fibrinogen, and systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly lowered to a similar extent by both regimens, but high-density lipoprotein cholesterol decreased only in the androgen group. MT-treated women showed a modest rise in body weight and gained visceral fat mass relative to the other group (P < 0.05), but there were no significant detrimental effects on fasting insulin levels and insulin resistance. Conclusion: This study suggests that the combination of low-dose oral MT and percutaneous E2, for 1 year, does not result in expressive increase of cardiovascular risk factors. This regimen can be recommended for symptomatic postmenopausal women, although it seems prudent to perform baseline and follow-up lipid profile and assessment of body composition, especially in those at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

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Abstract 003: Change in Cardiovascular Risk Factors Associated with Weight Gain in the Dallas Heart Study

Circulation ◽

10.1161/circ.125.suppl_10.a003 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 125 (suppl_10) ◽

Author(s):

Tiffany M Powell ◽

Colby R Ayers ◽

James A de Lemos ◽

Amit Khera ◽

Susan G Lakoski ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Weight Gain ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Average Weight ◽

Men And Women ◽

Significant Weight Gain ◽

Heart Study ◽

Dallas Heart Study ◽

The Impact

Background: Concerning trends in weight gain from 2000-2009 exist in the Dallas Heart Study (DHS), a probability-based sample of Dallas County residents aged 30-65. However, the impact of significant weight gain (≥ 5% increase in body weight) on cardiovascular risk factors (CVRF) in this contemporary, multi-ethnic population is not known. Methods: We measured weight, LDL-c, blood pressure (SBP and DBP), and fasting glucose (FG) in 2,022 DHS participants (58% female) at study entry in 2000 and in 2009. Using logistic regression stratified by sex and race/ethnicity, we determined the age-adjusted odds of worsening CVRF (any increase in LDL-c, SBP, DBP or FG) for people who gained significant weight compared to those who did not. Results: Among women, 43% (N=500) gained significant weight, compared to 42% of men (N=355). Despite similar average weight gain (9.7±5.8 kg for women vs. 10±5.6 kg for men, p=0.4), women who gained significant weight had almost twice as large an increase in LDL-c (14±34 vs. 8±39 mg/dl, p=0.01) and SBP (12±18 vs. 6±19 mmHg, p<0.001) compared with men who gained significant weight. Increases in DBP (5±10 vs. 4±11 mmHg, p=0.05) and FG (4±29 vs. 2±32 mg/dl, p=0.30) were not significantly different between men and women. Among those with significant weight gain who were not on medications, SBP and LDL-c increases were higher in women compared with men (p<0.05). Differences in the amount of weight gained stratified by race and sex were modest (Table). Black women who gained significant weight were likely to have a worsening of all CVRF, while Hispanic women had the highest likelihood of having an increase in SBP associated with weight gain. In contrast, significant weight gain among men was not associated with worsening CVRF. Conclusions: Significant weight gain was associated with a deleterious impact on CVRF among women but not men. Disparate effects of weight gain between men and women highlight the importance of targeting aggressive weight control interventions toward women to help prevent adverse cardiac outcomes.

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Association of cardiovascular risk factors with markers of endothelial dysfunction in middle-aged men and women

Thrombosis and Haemostasis ◽

10.1160/th05-08-0552 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 95 (01) ◽

pp. 134-141 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Barbara Thorand ◽

Jens Baumert ◽

Angela Döring ◽

Andrea Schneider ◽

Lloyd Chambless ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Endothelial Dysfunction ◽

Alcohol Consumption ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Linear Regression Analysis ◽

High Body Mass Index ◽

Moderate Alcohol Consumption ◽

Men And Women

SummaryEndothelial dysfunction plays an important role in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes mellitus. However, the causes underlying endothelial dysfunction are not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate associations of cardiovascular risk factors with soluble adhesion molecules (sE-Selectin, sICAM-1), soluble thrombomodulin (sTM) and von Willebrand factor (vWF) as markers of endothelial dysfunction. The study population consisted of a subcohort of 2,168 men and women aged 35 to 74 years randomly drawn from three cross-sectional population-based MONICA/ KORA Augsburg surveys conducted between 1984 and 1995. In multivariable linear regression analysis, current smoking, high (versus moderate) alcohol consumption, ratio of total cholesterol/HDL-cholesterol (TC/HDL-C) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were significantly associated with elevated levels of sEselectin and sICAM-1. Increased levels of sE-selectin were also found in subjects with actual hypertension, high body mass index and prevalent diabetes mellitus. In addition, low physical activity and no (versus moderate) alcohol consumption were significantly associated with elevated concentrations of sICAM-1. Levels of sTM were higher in subjects with actual hypertension, no or high amounts of alcohol intake and a high ratio of TC/ HDL-C, but were lower in subjects witha history of myocardial infarction. VWF was significantly associated with CRP only. In conclusion, sE-selectin and sICAM-1 are more strongly associated with traditional cardiovascular risk factors than sTM and vWF.

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Androgenetic alopecia and cardiovascular risk factors in men and women: A comparative study

Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology ◽

10.1016/j.jaad.2009.10.018 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 63 (3) ◽

pp. 420-429 ◽

Cited By ~ 74

Author(s):

Salvador Arias-Santiago ◽

María Teresa Gutiérrez-Salmerón ◽

Luisa Castellote-Caballero ◽

Agustín Buendía-Eisman ◽

Ramón Naranjo-Sintes

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Androgenetic Alopecia ◽

Men And Women

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Association between socioeconomic position and cystatin C in the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-98835-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Tanja Zamrik ◽

Mirjam Frank ◽

Carina Emmel ◽

Lars Christian Rump ◽

Raimund Erbel ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Cystatin C ◽

Socioeconomic Position ◽

Social Inequalities ◽

Men And Women ◽

Income Quartile ◽

Age And Sex

AbstractSocial inequalities in health and disease are well studied. Less information is available on inequalities in biomarker levels indicating subclinical stages of disease such as cystatin C, an early diagnostic marker of renal dysfunction and predictor for cardiovascular disease. We evaluated the relationship between cystatin C, socioeconomic position (SEP) and established cardiovascular risk factors in a population-based study. In 4475 men and women aged 45–75 years participating in the baseline examination of the Heinz Nixdorf Recall Study cystatin C was measured from serum samples with a nephelometric assay. SEP was assessed by education and household income. Linear regression models were used to analyse the association between SEP and cystatin C as well as the impact of cardiovascular risk factors (i.e., body mass index, blood pressure, blood glucose, diabetes mellitus, blood lipids, C-reactive protein, smoking) on this association. After adjustment for age and sex cystatin C decreased by 0.019 mg/l (95% confidence interval (CI) − 0.030 to − 0.008) per five years of education. While using a categorical education variable cystatin C presented 0.039 mg/l (95% CI 0.017–0.061) higher in men and women in the lowest educational category (≤ 10 years of education) compared to the highest category (≥ 18 years). Concerning income, cystatin C decreased by 0.014 mg/l (95% CI − 0.021 to − 0.006) per 1000 € after adjustment for age and sex. For men and women in the lowest income quartile cystatin C was 0.024 mg/l (95% CI 0.009–0.038) higher compared to the highest income quartile. After adjusting for established cardiovascular risk factors the observed associations were substantially diminished. Social inequalities seem to play a role in subclinical stages of renal dysfunction, which are also related to development of cardiovascular disease. Adjustment for traditional cardiovascular risk factors showed that these risk factors largely explain the association between SEP and cystatin C.

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Rheumatoid arthritis: influence of inflammation and anti-inflammatory therapy on cardiovascular risk factors

Medical Council ◽

10.21518/2079-701x-2020-11-32-44 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 32-44

Author(s):

D. I. Trukhan ◽

D. S. Ivanova ◽

K. D. Belus

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Risk Factors ◽

Cardiovascular Risk ◽

Cardiovascular Diseases ◽

Cardiovascular Risk Factors ◽

Chronic Inflammation ◽

Pharmacological Intervention ◽

Increased Risk ◽

Inflammatory Drugs ◽

Anti Inflammatory

Rheumatoid arthritis is a frequent and one of the most severe immuno-inflammatory diseases in humans, which determines the great medical and socio-economic importance of this pathology. One of the priority problems of modern cardiac rheumatology is an increased risk of cardiovascular complications in rheumatoid arthritis. In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, traditional cardiovascular risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (metabolic syndrome, obesity, dyslipidemia, arterial hypertension, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, smoking and hypodynamia) and a genetic predisposition are expressed. Their specific features also have a certain effect: the “lipid paradox” and the “obesity paradox”. However, chronic inflammation as a key factor in the development of progression of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunction plays a leading role in morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular diseases in rheumatoid arthritis. This review discusses the effect of chronic inflammation and its mediators on traditional cardiovascular risk factors and its independent significance in the development of CVD. Drug therapy (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, glucocorticosteroids, basic anti-inflammatory drugs, genetically engineered biological drugs) of the underlying disease also has a definite effect on cardiovascular risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A review of studies on this problem suggests a positive effect of pharmacological intervention in rheumatoid arthritis on cardiovascular risk factors, their reduction to a level comparable to the populations of patients not suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. The interaction of rheumatologists, cardiologists and first-contact doctors (therapist and general practitioner) in studying the mechanisms of the development of atherosclerosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis will allow in real clinical practice to develop adequate methods for the timely diagnosis and prevention of cardiovascular diseases in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

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