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O’Kelly AC, Michos ED, Shufelt CL, Vermunt JV, Minissian MB, Quesada O, Smith GN, Rich-Edwards JW, Garovic VD, El Khoudary SR, Honigberg MC. Pregnancy and Reproductive Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Circ Res 2022; 130:652-672. [PMID: 35175837 PMCID: PMC8870397 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.121.319895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Beyond conventional risk factors for cardiovascular disease, women face an additional burden of sex-specific risk factors. Key stages of a woman's reproductive history may influence or reveal short- and long-term cardiometabolic and cardiovascular trajectories. Early and late menarche, polycystic ovary syndrome, infertility, adverse pregnancy outcomes (eg, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, preterm delivery, and intrauterine growth restriction), and absence of breastfeeding are all associated with increased future cardiovascular disease risk. The menopause transition additionally represents a period of accelerated cardiovascular disease risk, with timing (eg, premature menopause), mechanism, and symptoms of menopause, as well as treatment of menopause symptoms, each contributing to this risk. Differences in conventional cardiovascular disease risk factors appear to explain some, but not all, of the observed associations between reproductive history and later-life cardiovascular disease; further research is needed to elucidate hormonal effects and unique sex-specific disease mechanisms. A history of reproductive risk factors represents an opportunity for comprehensive risk factor screening, refinement of cardiovascular disease risk assessment, and implementation of primordial and primary prevention to optimize long-term cardiometabolic health in women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna C. O’Kelly
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Erin D. Michos
- Ciccarone Center for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD,Division of Cardiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Chrisandra L. Shufelt
- Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center, Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA
| | - Jane V. Vermunt
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Margo B. Minissian
- Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center, Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA,Geri and Richard Brawerman Nursing Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles CA
| | - Odayme Quesada
- Women’s Heart Center, The Christ Hospital Heart and Vascular Institute, Cincinnati, OH,The Carl and Edyth Lindner Center for Research and Education, The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Graeme N. Smith
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada
| | - Janet W. Rich-Edwards
- Division of Women’s Health, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA,Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Vesna D. Garovic
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
| | - Samar R. El Khoudary
- Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
| | - Michael C. Honigberg
- Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA,Program in Medical and Population Genetics, Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA,Corrigan Women’s Heart Health Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
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Disparities in Cardiovascular Care and Outcomes for Women From Racial/Ethnic Minority Backgrounds. CURRENT TREATMENT OPTIONS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE 2020; 22:75. [PMID: 33223802 PMCID: PMC7669491 DOI: 10.1007/s11936-020-00869-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Purpose of review Racial, ethnic, and gender disparities in cardiovascular care are well-documented. This review aims to highlight the disparities and impact on a group particularly vulnerable to disparities, women from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds. Recent findings Women from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds remain underrepresented in major cardiovascular trials, limiting the generalizability of cardiovascular research to this population. Certain cardiovascular risk factors are more prevalent in women from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds, including traditional risk factors such as hypertension, obesity, and diabetes. Female-specific risk factors including gestational diabetes and preeclampsia as well as non-traditional psychosocial risk factors like depressive and anxiety disorders, increased child care, and familial and home care responsibility have been shown to increase risk for cardiovascular disease events in women more so than in men, and disproportionately affect women from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds. Despite this, minimal interventions to address differential risk have been proposed. Furthermore, disparities in treatment and outcomes that disadvantage minority women persist. The limited improvement in outcomes over time, especially among non-Hispanic Black women, is an area that requires further research and active interventions. Summary Understanding the lack of representation in cardiovascular trials, differential cardiovascular risk, and disparities in treatment and outcomes among women from racial/ethnic minority backgrounds highlights opportunities for improving cardiovascular care among this particularly vulnerable population.
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Age at menarche and age at natural menopause occur significantly earlier in African American women than in other ethnic groups. African American women also have twice the prevalence of cardiometabolic disorders related to the timing of these reproductive traits. OBJECTIVES The objectives of this integrative review were to (a) summarize the genome-wide association studies of reproductive traits in African American women, (b) identify genes that overlap with reproductive traits and cardiometabolic risk factors in African American women, and (c) propose biological mechanisms explaining the link between reproductive traits and cardiometabolic risk factors. METHODS PubMed was searched for genome-wide association studies of genes associated with reproductive traits in African American women. After extracting and summarizing the primary genes, we examined whether any of the associations with reproductive traits had also been identified with cardiometabolic risk factors in African American women. RESULTS Seven studies met the inclusion criteria. Associations with both reproductive and cardiometabolic traits were reported in or near the following genes: FTO, SEC16B, TMEM18, APOE, PHACTR1, KCNQ1, LDLR, PIK3R1, and RORA. Biological pathways implicated include body weight regulation, vascular homeostasis, and lipid metabolism. DISCUSSION A better understanding of the genetic basis of reproductive traits in African American women may provide insight into the biological mechanisms linking variation in these traits with increased risk for cardiometabolic disorders in this population.
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Nowakowski ACH, Graves KY. Does Inflammation Mediate Relationships Between Racial Identity and Onset of Menopause Among US Adults? J Racial Ethn Health Disparities 2016; 4:1128-1137. [PMID: 27924623 DOI: 10.1007/s40615-016-0318-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2016] [Revised: 10/31/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
We assess how well differences in ethnoracial background may predict timing of menopause among females in the USA and whether or not inflammatory biomarker levels appear to mediate these overall associations. We use data from the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project (NSHAP) to model apparent net effects from race on menopausal onset, as well as possible mediating influences from the inflammatory biomarker C-reactive protein (CRP). Using continuous time event history analysis, we assess and frame overall relationships between race and menopausal age. We use structural equation modeling to assess potential mediating effects from CRP and to estimate direct and indirect components of these apparent effects. Our findings suggest that on average, black females experience menopause earlier than their peers of other racial backgrounds, and have higher inflammatory biomarker levels. Both black race and higher CRP have negative and significant direct associations with menopausal age. CRP appears to partially mediate the overall association between black race and earlier menopause. This apparent mediation persists with statistical controls for income, education, and body mass index. Our study concludes with recommendations for future research on racial identity, inflammation, and menopausal onset. We focus our recommendations on intersectional forms of inequality that may affect black females in later life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra C H Nowakowski
- Department of Geriatrics, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1115 W Call Street, Suite 4235, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4300, USA.
| | - Katelyn Y Graves
- Department of Behavioral Sciences and Social Medicine, College of Medicine, Florida State University, 1115 W Call Street, Suite 3200, Tallahassee, FL, 32306-4300, USA
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