Gender Differences in Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease: From Lipids to Clinical Outcomes

Abstract

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the main reasons of death and morbidity in the world. Both women and men have high rates of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, although gender-related differences in mortality and morbidity rates are observed in different age groups of the population. In the large cohort of cardiovascular disease, ischemic heart disease (IHD), heart failure (HF), systemic hypertension, and valvular heart disease are particularly common in the population. CVDs caused by atherosclerosis are in the first place in terms of frequency, that is why society is particularly interested in this problem. The development and course of atherosclerotic processes associated with lipid and other metabolic changes are characterized by a long latent period, the clinical manifestation is often an acute vascular catastrophe, which can lead to human disability and death. Differences associated with sex are observed in the clinical course and manifestations, which raises the suspicion that gender influences processes related to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACD) includes two main most dangerous clinical manifestations: IHD and cerebrovascular disease (mainly ischemic stroke). Other less common clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis include aortic atherosclerosis and peripheral vascular disease. Gender-related differences were also identified concerning these diseases. The present review discusses the effects of gender and age on atherosclerotic processes, disease development, and clinical manifestations. The metabolic basis for the development of atherosclerosis appears to be related to sex hormones. Thus this issue is interesting and useful for doctors of different specialties.

Diet, Fecal Microbiome, and Trimethylamine N-Oxide in a Cohort of Metabolically Healthy United States Adults

“…Potentially, elevated TMAO concentrations coupled with an underlying cardiometabolic disease (e.g., obesity, systemic inflammation, decreased kidney function, gut microbiome dysbiosis) may dictate the physiological effect of TMAO. Furthermore, our finding that TMAO increases with age in females, but not males, supports the epidemiological observation that cardiovascular risk increases in females after menopause [ 52 , 53 ]. The FMO3 gene has an estrogen response element in its promoter and may influence this finding [ 49 , 54 ].…”

Lipoprofiling Assessed by NMR Spectroscopy in Patients with Acute Coronary Syndromes: Is There a Need for Fasting Prior to Sampling?

“…Differences associated with sex are observed in the clinical course and manifestations, which raises the suspicion that gender influences processes related to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ACD) includes two main clinical manifestations: ischemic heart disease (which summarizes ACS–IHD) and cerebrovascular disease (mainly ischemic stroke) [ 1 ].…”

Sex differences in coronary artery disease and diabetes revealed by scRNA-Seq and CITE-Seq of human CD4+ T cells

“…7 Ultimately, myocardial infarctions and other manifestations of CVD become the #1 cause of death in women older than 85 years in the United States. 8 The reasons for these sex differences in atherosclerosis and CVD 9 are not well understood. Here, we focus on such differences, because CVD and its sequelae are a major public health problem.…”