Biology, Bias, or Both? The Contribution of Sex and Gender to the Disparity in Cardiovascular Outcomes Between Women and Men

Gender sensitivity of the COVID-19 mental health research in Europe: a scoping review

BACKGROUND

The integration of sex and gender aspects into the research process has been recognized as crucial to the generation of valid data. During the coronavirus pandemic, a great deal of research addressed the mental state of hospital staff, as they constituted a population at risk for infection and distress. However, it is still unknown how the gender dimension was included. We aimed to appraise and measure qualitatively the extent of gender sensitivity.

METHODS

In this scoping review, we searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL PsycINFO and Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI) from database inception to November 11, 2021. All quantitative studies with primary data published in English, German, or Spanish and based in the European Union were selected. Included studies had to have assessed the mental health of hospital staff using validated psychometric scales for depression, anxiety, PTSD symptoms, distress, suicidal behavior, insomnia, substance abuse or aggressive behavior. Two independent reviewers applied eligibility criteria to each title/abstract reviewed, to the full text of the article, and performed the data extraction. A gender sensitivity assessment tool was developed and validated, consisting of 18 items followed by a final qualitative assessment. Two independent reviewers assessed the gender dimension of each included article.

RESULTS

Three thousand one hundred twelve studies were identified, of which 72 were included in the analysis. The most common design was cross-sectional (75.0%) and most of them were conducted in Italy (31.9%). Among the results, only one study assessed suicidal behaviors and none substance abuse disorders or aggressive behaviors. Sex and gender were used erroneously in 83.3% of the studies, and only one study described how the gender of the participants was determined. Most articles (71.8%) did not include sex/gender in the literature review and did not discuss sex/gender-related findings with a gender theoretical background (86.1%). In the analysis, 37.5% provided sex/gender disaggregated data, but only 3 studies performed advanced modeling statistics, such as interaction analysis. In the overall assessment, 3 papers were rated as good in terms of gender sensitivity, and the rest as fair (16.7%) and poor (79.2%). Three papers were identified in which gender stereotypes were present in explaining the results. None of the papers analyzed the results of non-binary individuals.

CONCLUSIONS

Studies on the mental health of hospital staff during the pandemic did not adequately integrate the gender dimension, despite the institutional commitment of the European Union and the gendered effect of the pandemic. In the development of future mental health interventions for this population, the use and generalizability of current evidence should be done cautiously.

Sex Differences Across the Lifespan: A Focus on Cardiometabolism

Women's health and sex differences research remain understudied. In 2022, to address the topic of sex differences, the Ludeman Family Center for Women's Health Research (LFCWHR) at the University of Colorado (LudemanCenter.org) held its third National Conference, "Sex Differences Across the Lifespan: A Focus on Metabolism." The research presentations and discussions from the 2022 conference addressed cardiometabolic sex differences across the lifespan and included sessions focusing on scientific methods with which to study sex differences, effects of estrogen on metabolism, and sex differences in cardiovascular disease-implications for women and policy among others. Over 100 participants, including basic scientists, clinical scientists, policymakers, advocacy group leaders, and federal agency leadership participated. The meeting proceedings reveal that although exciting advances in the area of sex differences have taken place, significant questions and gaps remain about women's health and sex differences in critical areas of health. Identifying these gaps and the subsequent research that will result may lead to important breakthroughs.

Assessing feasibility and sex-related inequity in the cardiac rehabilitation quality indicators in Manitoba

The cardiac rehabilitation quality indicators (CRQIs) developed by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society provide a means to standardize program assessment and identify sex-related inequities. No formal evaluation of the CRQIs has been conducted in Manitoba. An environmental scan for the CRQIs was performed using data in the electronic medical record at two cardiac rehabilitation (CR) sites in Winnipeg for 2016-2019 referrals. Of the 8116 referrals, 7758 (5491 males and 2267 females) had geographical access and were eligible for CR. The Manitoba Centre for Health Policy Data Quality Framework informed the data quality assessment. Thirteen CRQIs were available; four were considered high quality; nine demonstrated moderate to significant missing data. In addition to missing values, potential misclassification of risk (CR-4) and physiologically implausible and invalid dates were assessed and identified (CR-13 and CR-17). Each site had a physician medical director (CR-31) and a documented emergency response strategy (CR-32). Only high-quality data were evaluated for sex-related differences using chi-square and median tests. Women had lower enrollment (CR-3), and more women enrolled after the median of 41 days (CR-2b). Engagement with CR partners, including frontline staff, and utilizing strategies to assess and limit physiologically implausible values and dates will enhance data capture and quality.

A sociodemographic index identifies sex-related effects on insomnia in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Study Objectives

Sex differences are related to both biological factors and the gendered environment. We constructed measures to model sex-related differences beyond binary sex.

Methods

Data came from the baseline visit of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL). We applied the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator penalized logistic regression of male versus female sex over sociodemographic, acculturation, and psychological factors jointly. Two "gendered indices," the gendered index of sociodemographic environment (GISE) and gendered index of psychological and sociodemographic environment, summarizing the sociodemographic environment (GISE) and psychosocial and sociodemographic environment (GIPSE) associated with sex, were calculated by summing these variables, weighted by their regression coefficients. We examined the association of these indices with insomnia, a phenotype with strong sex differences, in sex-adjusted and sex-stratified analyses.

Results

The distribution of GISE and GIPSE differed by sex with higher values in male individuals. In an association model with insomnia, male sex was associated with a lower likelihood of insomnia (odds ratio [OR] = 0.60, 95% CI [0.53, 0.67]). Including GISE in the model, the association was slightly weaker (OR = 0.63, 95% CI [0.56, 0.70]), and weaker when including instead GIPSE in the association model (OR = 0.78, 95% CI [0.69, 0.88]). Higher values of GISE and of GIPSE, more common in the male sex, were associated with a lower likelihood of insomnia, in analyses adjusted for sex (per 1 standard deviation of the index, GISE OR = 0.92, 95% CI [0.87, 0.99], GIPSE OR = 0.65, 95% CI [0.61, 0.70]).

Conclusions

New measures such as GISE and GIPSE capture sex-related differences beyond binary sex and have the potential to better model and inform research studies of sleep health.

The OMNIVEG STUDY: Health outcomes of shifting from a traditional to a vegan Mediterranean diet in healthy men. A controlled crossover trial

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The Mediterranean diet is a plant-based dietary pattern with well-established health benefits such as the reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Additionally, incorporating more plant-based foods into a Mediterranean diet may provide further health benefits. The study aimed to assess the effect of shifting from a traditional Mediterranean diet to a vegan Mediterranean diet on cardiorespiratory fitness and lipid profile in physically active and healthy men.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Participants underwent a baseline period with adhesion to the general patterns of the Mediterranean diet for three weeks and then they changed to an isocaloric vegan version of the Mediterranean diet for four weeks, with a 7-day washout period between diets. The shift from the traditional Mediterranean diet to the vegan Mediterranean diet required substituting animal-based foods with plant-based foods that contain comparable amounts of protein and fat. Fourteen participants with a mean age of 24.6 ± 7.0 years (range: 18-37 years), completed the study protocol. The change from the traditional to the vegan Mediterranean diet reduced blood concentration of total cholesterol (-22.6 mg/dl, p < 0.01, Effect size [ES] = 1.07) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (-12.8 mg/dl, p < 0.01, ES = 0.72). An inverse correlation was observed between the intake of dietary fibre and LDL-C (partial rho = -0.43, p = 0.040).

CONCLUSIONS

The adoption of a vegan Mediterranean diet with plant-based proteins and fats instead of the traditional Mediterranean diet improved several cardiometabolic health outcomes in physically active and healthy men.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY

NCT06008886.

Sex-Related Differences in Life Expectancy Compared to General Population after Surgery for Ascending Aortic Aneurysm

Background/Objectives: Understanding sex-based differences in cardiovascular outcomes is paramount to improving clinical outcomes. Surgery is an aggressive but effective therapy for ascending aortic aneurysm. We sought to determine if being a woman is a risk factor for long-term mortality after this surgery. We compared their life expectancy with a general population of the same age, sex, year, and region. Methods: We compared men and women undergoing AAA surgery at our institution from 2000 to 2019. After balancing the population with propensity score (PS) matching, we compared long-term mortality control with a Cox regression. We determined the RS using the Ederer II method and compared it to a healthy reference population of the same age, sex, and region. Results: From 2000 to 2019, 232 women and 506 men underwent ascending aortic aneurysm surgery. After a mean follow-up of 51.5 ± 34.5 months, sex was not an independent risk factor for long-term mortality in the multivariable analysis [HR: 0.68 (95% CI 0.43-1.07, p = 0.23)]. Matching by baseline characteristics, 196 pairs were analyzed with no differences regarding mortality in the Cox regression [HR: 1.11 (95% CI 0.65-1.9, p = 0.23)]. Men and women who survived the postoperative period presented a relative survival of 100.3% (95% CI 97.4-101%) and 100.3% (95% CI 98.9-101.1%), respectively, similar to the reference population without the disease. Conclusions: For patients undergoing AAA surgery, sex was not an independent predictor of mortality. Men and women who survived the postoperative period presented a similar life expectancy to that of the reference population (people free from the disease of the same age, sex, year, and region).

Theory of change for addressing sex and gender bias, invisibility and exclusion in Australian health and medical research, policy and practice

Sex and gender are inadequately considered in health and medical research, policy and practice, leading to preventable disparities in health and wellbeing. Several global institutions, journals, and funding bodies have developed policies and guidelines to improve the inclusion of diverse participants and consideration of sex and gender in research design and reporting and the delivery of clinical care. However, according to recent evaluations, these policies have had limited impact on the inclusion of diverse research participants, adequate reporting of sex and gender data and reducing preventable inequities in access to, and quality provision of, healthcare. In Australia, the Sex and Gender Policies in Medical Research (SGPMR) project aims to address sex and gender bias in health and medical research by (i) examining how sex and gender are currently considered in Australian research policy and practice; (ii) working with stakeholders to develop policy interventions; and (iii) understanding the wider impacts, including economic, of improved sex and gender consideration in Australian health and medical research. In this paper we describe the development of a theory of change (ToC) for the SGPMR project. The ToC evolved from a two-stage process consisting of key stakeholder interviews and a consultation event. The ToC aims to identify the pathways to impact from improved consideration of sex and gender in health and medical research, policy and practice, and highlight how key activities and policy levers can lead to improvements in clinical practice and health outcomes. In describing the development of the ToC, we present an entirely novel framework for outlining how sex and gender can be appropriately considered within the confines of health and medical research, policy and practice.

Gender and Sex Differences in the Management, Intervention, and Outcomes of Patients With Severe Primary Mitral Regurgitation

BACKGROUND

Gender- and sex-based disparities in mitral valve disease exist; however the factors associated with these differences are unknown. Identifying these differences is essential in devising mitigating strategies. We evaluated gender and sex differences among patients with severe primary mitral regurgitation (MR) across treatment phases.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with new diagnoses of severe primary MR between 2016 and 2020. We compared multidisciplinary evaluation incidence and 2-year survival between men and women. We analyzed a subgroup meeting class 1 indications for intervention, which includes severe symptomatic MR or severe asymptomatic MR with ejection fraction <60% or left ventricular end-systolic diameter >40 mm. Logistic regression models identified predictors associated with the likelihood of multidisciplinary evaluation. Among 330 patients meeting class 1 indications, women were older (79 versus 76 years, P=0.01) and had higher Society of Thoracic Surgeons risk scores for mitral valve repair than men (2.5% versus 1.4%, P=0.003). Women were less likely to undergo multidisciplinary evaluation (57% versus 84%, P<0.001) and intervention (47% versus 69%, P<0.001) than men. Median days to intervention for women and men were 77 and 43, respectively. Women had a higher 2-year mortality rate than men (31% versus 21%, P=0.035). On a multivariable model, female sex and older age were associated with lower odds of undergoing multidisciplinary evaluation (odds ratio, 0.26; P<0.001; odds ratio, 0.95; P<0.001, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Women with severe primary MR with class 1 indication for intervention were less likely to undergo multidisciplinary evaluation and intervention and had a longer interval to intervention than men. Survival was comparable after accounting for age and comorbidity differences.

Causal Inference Challenges in the Relationship Between Social Determinants and Cardiovascular Outcomes

The effects of social determinants on cardiovascular outcomes are frequently estimated in epidemiologic analyses, but the profound causal and statistical challenges of this research program are not widely discussed. Here, we carefully review definitions and measures for social determinants of cardiovascular health and then examine the various assumptions required for valid causal inference in multivariable analyses of observational data, such as what one would typically encounter in cohorts, population surveys, health care databases, and vital statistics databases. We explain the necessity of the "well-defined exposure" and show how this goal relates to the "consistency assumption" that is necessary for valid causal inference. Well-defined exposure is especially challenging for social determinants of health because they are seldom simple atomistic interventions that are easily conceptualized and measured. We then review threats to valid inference that arise from confounding, selection bias, information bias, and positivity violations. Other causal considerations are reviewed and explained, such as correct model specification, absence of immortal time, and avoidance of the "Table 2 Fallacy," and their application to social determinants of cardiovascular outcomes are discussed. Fruitful approaches, including focusing on policy interventions and the "target trial" frameworks are proposed and provide a pathway for a more efficacious research program that can more reliably improve population health. Valid causal inference in this setting is quite challenging, but-with clever design and thoughtful analysis-the important role of social factors in patterning cardiovascular outcomes can be quantified and reported.

Differences across the lifespan between females and males in the top 20 causes of disease burden globally: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

BACKGROUND

Sex and gender shape health. There is a growing body of evidence focused on comprehensively and systematically examining the magnitude, persistence, and nature of differences in health between females and males. Here, we aimed to quantify differences in the leading causes of disease burden between females and males across ages and geographies.

METHODS

We used the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021 to compare disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) rates for females and males for the 20 leading causes of disease burden for individuals older than 10 years at the global level and across seven world regions, between 1990 and 2021. We present absolute and relative differences in the cause-specific DALY rates between females and males.

FINDINGS

Globally, females had a higher burden of morbidity-driven conditions with the largest differences in DALYs for low back pain (with 478·5 [95% uncertainty interval 346·3-632·8] more DALYs per 100 000 individuals among females than males), depressive disorders (348·3 [241·3-471·0]), and headache disorders (332·9 [48·3-731·9]), whereas males had higher DALY rates for mortality-driven conditions with the largest differences in DALYs for COVID-19 (with 1767·8 [1581·1-1943·5] more DALYs per 100 000 among males than females), road injuries (1012·2 [934·1-1092·9]), and ischaemic heart disease (1611·8 [1405·0-1856·3]). The differences between sexes became larger over age and remained consistent over time for all conditions except HIV/AIDS. The largest difference in HIV/AIDS was observed among those aged 25-49 years in sub-Saharan Africa with 1724·8 (918·8-2613·7) more DALYs per 100 000 among females than males.

INTERPRETATION

The notable health differences between females and males point to an urgent need for policies to be based on sex-specific and age-specific data. It is also important to continue promoting gender-sensitive research, and ultimately, implement interventions that not only reduce the burden of disease but also achieve greater health equity.

FUNDING

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Obesity effect on newly diagnosed and recurrent post-ablation atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The role of overweight and obesity in the development of atrial fibrillation (AF) is well established; however, the differential effect on the occurrence and recurrence of AF remains uncertain. The aim of this review is to compare the effect of underweight and varying degrees of obesity on onset of AF and in recurrent post-ablation AF, and, when possible, in relation to sex.

METHODS

A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library from inception to January 31, 2023. Studies reporting frequency of newly-diagnosed AF and of recurrent post-ablation AF in different BMI categories, were included. 3400 records were screened and 50 met the inclusion criteria. Standardized data search and abstraction were performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) Statement. Data were extracted from the manuscripts and were analyzed using a random effect model. The outcome was the occurrence of AF in population studies and in patients undergoing ablation.

RESULTS

Data from 50 studies were collected, of which 27 for newly-diagnosed AF and 23 for recurrent post-ablation AF, for a total of 15,134,939 patients, of which 15,115,181 in studies on newly-diagnosed AF and 19,758 in studies on recurrent post-ablation AF. Compared to normal weight, the increase in AF was significant (p < 0.01) for overweight, obese, and morbidly obese patients for newly-diagnosed AF, and for obese and morbidly obese patients for recurrent post-ablation AF. Newly-diagnosed AF was more frequent in obese female than obese male patients.

CONCLUSION

The effect of increased BMI was greater on the onset of AF, and obese women were more affected than men.

Mechanisms of sex differences in Alzheimer's disease

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and the mechanisms underlying its etiology and progression are complex and multifactorial. The higher AD risk in women may serve as a clue to better understand these complicated processes. In this review, we examine aspects of AD that demonstrate sex-dependent effects and delve into the potential biological mechanisms responsible, compiling findings from advanced technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing, metabolomics, and multi-omics analyses. We review evidence that sex hormones and sex chromosomes interact with various disease mechanisms during aging, encompassing inflammation, metabolism, and autophagy, leading to unique characteristics in disease progression between men and women.

A sociodemographic index identifies non-biological sex-related effects on insomnia in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Background

Sex differences are related to both biological factors and the gendered environment. To untangle sex-related effects on health and disease it is important to model sex-related differences better.

Methods

Data came from the baseline visit of the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos (HCHS/SOL), a longitudinal cohort study following 16,415 individuals recruited at baseline from four study sites: Bronx NY, Miami FL, San Diego CA, and Chicago IL. We applied LASSO penalized logistic regression of male versus female sex over sociodemographic, acculturation, and psychological factors jointly. Two "gendered indices", GISE and GIPSE, summarizing the sociodemographic environment (GISE, primary) and psychosocial and sociodemographic environment (GIPSE, secondary) associated with sex, were calculated by summing these variables, weighted by their regression coefficients. We examined the association of these indices with insomnia derived from self-reported symptoms assessed via the Women Health Initiative Insomnia Rating Scale (WHIIRS), a phenotype with strong sex differences, in sex-adjusted and sex-stratified analyses. All analyses were adjusted for age, Hispanic/Latino background, and study center.

Results

The distribution of GISE and GIPSE differed by sex with higher values in male individuals, even when constructing and validating them on separate, independent, subsets of HCHS/SOL individuals. In an association model with insomnia, male sex was associated with lower likelihood of insomnia (odds ratio (OR)=0.60, 95% CI (0.53, 0.67)). Including GISE in the model, the association was slightly weaker (OR=0.63, 95% CI (0.56, 0.70)), and weaker when including instead GIPSE in the association model (OR=0.78, 95% CI (0.69, 0.88)). Higher values of GISE and of GIPSE, more common in male sex, were associated with lower likelihood of insomnia, in analyses adjusted for sex (per 1 standard deviation of the index, GISE OR= 0.92, 95% CI (0.87, 0.99), GIPSE OR=0.65, 95% CI (0.61, 0.70)).

Conclusions

New measures such as GISE and GIPSE capture sex-related differences beyond binary sex and have the potential to better model and inform research studies of health. However, such indices do not account for gender identity and may not well capture the environment experienced by intersex and non-binary persons.

Myocardial Infarction Within 30 Days of Discharge From an Emergency Department: A Descriptive Study of Albertan Women

Background

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of premature death for Canadian women, which may be due partly to a lack of awareness of the presentation of acute coronary events in emergency departments (EDs). To address an identified gap in women's cardiovascular care, we sought to describe the clinical and comorbid factors of women who, following discharge from an ED, suffered a myocardial infarction (MI).

Methods

Descriptive analyses were completed on a cohort of women who presented to an ED in Alberta, Canada, between January 1, 2010 and December 31, 2020, were discharged, and within 30 days of their index ED visit, were admitted to the hospital with an MI. The cohort was explored for clinical and comorbid data, ED visits pre-MI, type of MI, and presenting complaint/ primary diagnosis for the index ED visit.

Results

1380 women were included in this analysis with a mean age of 67 (standard deviation ±13) years. The frequencies of hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia among the youngest women, aged 18-45 years, were 47.5%, 31.3%, and 48.8%, respectively. Women across all ages demonstrated a high prevalence of traditional CVD risk factors, and 22% of women presented to an ED 2 or more times within the 30 days pre-MI.

Conclusions

Regardless of their age, the women in this cohort had notable CVD risk factors. Future research is required to better understand the phenomenon of women presenting multiple times to an ED pre-MI. Research is needed on life-stage-specific factors of women presenting to EDs pre-MI, to help reduce MI incidence.

Gender Bias in Diagnosis, Prevention, and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases: A Systematic Review

Cardiovascular disease (CVDs) has been perceived as a 'man's disease', and this impacted women's referral to CVD diagnosis and treatment. This study systematically reviewed the evidence regarding gender bias in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of CVDs. Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. We searched CINAHL, PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, British Nursing Index, Scopus, and Google Scholar. The included studies were assessed for quality using risk bias tools. Data extracted from the included studies were exported into Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS, v26; IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Armonk, NY), where descriptive statistics were applied. A total of 19 studies were analysed. CVDs were less reported among women who either showed milder symptoms than men or had their symptoms misdiagnosed as gastrointestinal or anxiety-related symptoms. Hence, women had their risk factors under-considered by physicians (especially by male physicians). Subsequently, women were offered fewer diagnostic tests, such as coronary angiography, ergometry, electrocardiogram (ECG), and cardiac enzymes, and were referred to less to cardiologists and/or hospitalisation. Furthermore, if hospitalised, women were less likely to receive a coronary intervention. Similarly, women were prescribed cardiovascular medicines than men, with the exception of antihypertensive and anti-anginal medicines. When it comes to the perception of CVD, women considered themselves at lower risk of CVDs than men. This systematic review showed that women were offered fewer diagnostic tests for CVDs and medicines than men and that in turn influenced their disease outcomes. This could be attributed to the inadequate knowledge regarding the differences in manifestations among both genders.

Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factor Prevalence, Morbidity, and Mortality in Colombia: Findings from the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study

Background

Controversies exist on whether the presence of cardiovascular risk factors and their association with major cardiovascular events (MACE) is different between men and women. Most of the evidence comes from high-income countries, hindering extrapolation of sociocultural and demographic factors of other regions.

Objective

To evaluate sex differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors and the incidence of MACE and diabetes in Colombian adults.

Methods

We performed a survival analysis from women and men aged 35-70 belonging to the Prospective Urban Rural Epidemiology-Colombia prospective study. Incidence rates for MACE composite (myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, death) and each outcome and diabetes were calculated. Kaplan-Meier curves and log-rank tests were performed. The association between demographic, behavioral, and metabolic variables with MACE and diabetes were evaluated with Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

7,552 participants (50±9.7 years) were included; 64% were women. Women had higher hypertension prevalence, body mass index, levels of total cholesterol, LDL-c, and HDL-c but lower triglycerides levels. Women were more sedentary but fewer smokers or active alcohol consumers and had higher educational levels. After 12-year mean follow-up (SD 2.3), the incidence rate of MACE composite was higher in men [4.2 (3.6-4.9) vs. 3.2 (2.8-3.7) cases per 1000 person-years]. Diabetes had the greatest association with MACE (HR = 2.63 95%CI:1.85;3.76), followed by hypertension (HR = 1.75 95%CI:1.30;2.35), low relative grip strength (HR = 1.53 95%CI:1.15;2.02), smoking (HR = 1.47 95%CI: 1.11;1.93), low physical activity (HR = 1.42 95%CI: 1.03;1.96). When evaluating risk factors by sex, only an increased waist-to-hip ratio was more strongly associated with MACE in men (p-interaction <0.05).

Conclusions

The composite MACE outcome was higher in men despite having a lower overall burden of risk factors. The risk factors contribution was similar, leading us to reconsider the need to carrying out differentiated cardiovascular risk prevention and management campaigns, at least in our region.

A life-course approach to tackling noncommunicable diseases in women

Women's health has been critically underserved by a failure to look beyond women's sexual and reproductive systems to adequately consider their broader health needs. In almost every country in the world, noncommunicable diseases are the leading causes of death for women. Among these, cardiovascular disease (including heart disease and stroke) and cancer are the major causes of mortality. Risks for these conditions exist at each stage of women's lives, but recognition of the unique needs of women for the prevention and management of noncommunicable diseases is relatively recent and still emerging. Once they are diagnosed, treatments for these diseases are often costly and noncurative. Therefore, we call for a strategic, innovative life-course approach to identifying disease triggers and instigating cost-effective measures to minimize exposure in a timely manner. Prohibitive barriers to implementing this holistic approach to women's health exist in both the social arena and the medical arena. Recognizing these impediments and implementing practical approaches to surmounting them is a rational approach to advancing health equity for women, with ultimate benefits for society as a whole.

A review of the historical use of sex as a biological variable in the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology

Despite National Institute of Health (NIH) mandates requiring sex as a biological variable (SABV), female underrepresentation persists in research, driving the American Journal of Physiology-Heart and Circulatory Physiology (Am J Physiol-Heart Circ) to publish SABV expectations in 2021. To determine progress within the Am J Physiol-Heart Circ, this mini-review evaluated SABV during the first 6 mo of each decade from 1980 to 2020, and 2019, to mitigate pandemic influence. Of the 1,205 articles published, 1,087 articles were included in this review (articles without original research subjects were excluded), of which 72.9% identified subjects. There were consistently fewer female human participants than males, except within 2019 (1980: females n = 3, males n = 5; 1990: females n = 70, males n = 199; 2000: females n = 305, males n = 355; 2010: females n = 186, males n = 472; 2019: females n = 1,695, males n = 1,550; 2020: females n = 1,157, males n = 1,222) and fewer female animals than males (1980: females n = 58, males n = 1,291; 1990: females n = 447, males n = 2,628; 2000: females n = 590, males n = 3,083; 2010: females n = 663, males n = 4,517; 2019: females n = 338, males n = 1,340; 2020: females n = 1,372, males n = 1,973). Only 16 (12.3%) articles including humans discussed SABV from 1980 to 2020. There are persistent SABV disparities within Am J Physiol-Heart Circ with some improvements in recent years. It is imperative that organizations such as the American Physiological Society and NIH foster an expectation of SABV as the norm, not the exception.

Predictive values of metabolic score for insulin resistance on risk of major adverse cardiovascular events and comparison with other insulin resistance indices among Chinese with and without diabetes mellitus: Results from the 4C cohort study

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

To investigate the relationship between the metabolic score for insulin resistance (METS-IR) index and major adverse cardiac events (MACEs) and to compare its ability to predict MACEs with other IR indices including homeostatic model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR) and triglyceride glucose (TyG) index-related parameters.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a cohort study enrolling 7,291 participants aged ≥40 years. Binary logistic regression and restricted cubic splines were performed to determine the association between METS-IR and MACEs, and the receiver operating curve (ROC) was utilized to compare the predictive abilities of IR indices and to determine the optimal cut-off points.

RESULTS

There were 348 (4.8%) cases of MACEs during a median follow-up of 3.8 years. Compared with participants with a METS-IR in the lowest quartile, the multivariate-adjusted RRs and 95% CIs for participants with a METS-IR in the highest quartile were 1.47 (1.05-2.77) in all participants, 1.42 (1.18-2.54) for individuals without diabetes, and 1.75 (1.11-6.46) for individuals with diabetes. Significant interactions were found between the METS-IR and the risk of MACEs by sex in all participants and by age and sex in individuals without diabetes (all P values for interaction < 0.05). In the ROC analysis, the METS-IR had a higher AUC value than other indices for predicting MACEs in individuals with diabetes and had a comparable or higher AUC than other indices for individuals without diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS

The METS-IR can be an effective clinical indicator for identifying MACEs, as it had superior predictive power when compared with other IR indices in individuals with diabetes.

Gender-affirming hormone therapy, mental health, and surgical considerations for aging transgender and gender diverse adults

As the transgender and gender diverse (TGD) population ages, more transfeminine and transmasculine individuals present to clinic to initiate or continue their gender-affirming care at older ages. Currently available guidelines on gender-affirming care are excellent resources for the provision of gender-affirming hormone therapy (GAHT), primary care, surgery, and mental health care but are limited in their scope as to whether recommendations require tailoring to older TGD adults. Data that inform guideline-recommended management considerations, while informative and increasingly evidence-based, mainly come from studies of younger TGD populations. Whether results from these studies, and therefore recommendations, can or should be extrapolated to aging TGD adults remains to be determined. In this perspective review, we acknowledge the lack of data in older TGD adults and discuss considerations for evaluating cardiovascular disease, hormone-sensitive cancers, bone health and cognitive health, gender-affirming surgery, and mental health in the older TGD population on GAHT.

Cardiovascular disease risk in the transgender population

This review summarizes the impact of gender affirming hormone therapy used in the transgendered population and the classic and emerging risk factors on cardiovascular outcomes and surrogate markers of cardiovascular health. There is a growing body of evidence that people who are transgender and gender diverse are impacted by disparities across a variety of cardiovascular risk factors compared with their peers who are cisgender. Previously, disparities have been reported in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality across this group as a result of a higher prevalence of non-healthy life style. However, recent research suggests that there are additional factors playing a role in this differences: there is the hypothesis that the excess of cardiovascular morbility and mortality has been driven by psychosocial stressors across the lifespan at multiple levels, as structural violence (e.g., discrimination, lack of affordable housing, lack of access to health care, etc.). Lack of information and research in this population is an important limitation; therefore, a multifaceted approach that integrates best practice into research, health promotion and cardiovascular care for this understudied and growing population is clearly needed.

Obesity Pillars Roundtable: Body mass index and body composition in Black and Female individuals. Race-relevant or racist? Sex-relevant or sexist?

Background

Body mass index (BMI or weight in kilograms/height in meters2) is the most common metric to diagnose overweight and obesity. However, a body composition analysis more thoroughly assesses adiposity, percent body fat, lean body mass (i.e., including skeletal muscle), and sometimes bone mineral density. BMI is not an accurate assessment of body fat in individuals with increased or decreased muscle mass; the diagnostic utility of BMI in individuals is also influenced by race and sex.

Methods

Previous Obesity Pillars Roundtables addressed the diagnostic limitations of BMI, the importance of android and visceral fat (especially among those with South and East Asian ancestry), and considerations of obesity among individuals who identify as Hispanic, diverse in sexual-orientation, Black, Native American, and having ancestry from the Mediterranean and Middle East regions. This roundtable examines considerations of BMI in Black and female individuals.

Results

The panelists agreed that body composition assessment was a more accurate measure of adiposity and muscle mass than BMI. When it came to matters of race and sex, one panelist felt: "race is a social construct and not a defining biology." Another felt that: "BMI should be a screening tool to prompt further evaluation of adiposity that utilizes better diagnostic tools for body composition." Regarding bias and misperceptions of resistance training in female individuals, another panelist stated: "I have spent my entire medical career taking care of women and have never seen a woman unintentionally gain 'too much' muscle mass and bulk up from moderate strength training."

Conclusions

Conveying the importance of race and sex regarding body composition has proven challenging, with the discussion sometimes devolving into misunderstandings or misinformation that may be perceived as racist or sexist. Body composition analysis is the ultimate diagnostic equalizer in addressing the inaccuracies and biases inherent in the exclusive use of BMI.