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Venditti V, Bleve E, Morano S, Filardi T. Gender-Related Factors in Medication Adherence for Metabolic and Cardiovascular Health. Metabolites 2023; 13:1087. [PMID: 37887412 PMCID: PMC10609002 DOI: 10.3390/metabo13101087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
This review explores the impact of gender on medication adherence in the context of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. Optimal adherence to medication is crucial for achieving treatment goals and preventing adverse outcomes in chronic diseases. The review examines specific conditions such as type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, arterial hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and heart failure. In type 2 diabetes, female sex, younger age, new drug prescription, non-white ethnicity, low education level, and low income were identified as predictors of non-adherence. Depressive disorders were also found to influence adherence. In hypercholesterolemia, women exhibited poorer adherence to statin therapy compared to men, with statin-related side effects and patient perception being significant factors. Adherence to anti-hypertensive therapy showed conflicting results, with studies reporting both higher and lower adherence in women. Limited evidence suggests that women may have poorer adherence after acute myocardial infarction and stroke. Regarding heart failure, adherence studies have shown inconsistent findings. The reasons for gender differences in medication adherence are multifactorial and include sociodemographic, disease-related, treatment-related, and psychological factors. This review emphasizes the need for further research to better understand these differences and develop gender-customized interventions that can improve medication adherence and reduce the burden of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vittorio Venditti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.V.); (E.B.); (S.M.)
| | - Enrico Bleve
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.V.); (E.B.); (S.M.)
| | - Susanna Morano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Viale Regina Elena 324, 00161 Rome, Italy; (V.V.); (E.B.); (S.M.)
| | - Tiziana Filardi
- Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Roma Open University, Via di Val Cannuta, 247, 00166 Rome, Italy
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2
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Sozzi FB, Belmonte M, Schiavone M, Canetta C, Gupta R, Blasi F. Women’s Cardiac Health in 2020: A Systematic Review. JOURNAL OF CARDIAC CRITICAL CARE TSS 2020. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0040-1718503] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractAlthough substantial progress has been made toward improving gender- and sex-specific cardiovascular disease (CVD) management and outcomes, contemporary reports indicate a persistent knowledge gap with regard to optimal risk-stratification and management in female cardiac heart disease (CHD) patients. Prominent patient and system delays in diagnosing CHD are, in part, due to the limited awareness for the latent CVD risk in women, a lack of sex-specific thresholds within clinical guidelines, and subsequent limited performance of contemporary diagnostic approaches in women. Several traditional risk factors for CHD affect both women and men. But other factors can play a bigger role in the development of heart disease in women. In addition, little is known about the influence of socioenvironmental and contextual factors on gender-specific disease manifestation and outcomes. It is imperative that we understand the mechanisms that contribute to worsening risk factors profiles in young women to reduce future atherosclerotic CVD morbidity and mortality. This comprehensive review focuses on the novel aspects of cardiovascular health in women and sex differences as they relate to clinical practice and prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of CVD. Increased recognition of the prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and their differential impact in women, as well as emerging nontraditional risk factors unique to or more common in women, contribute to new understanding mechanisms, leading to worsening outcome for women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiola B. Sozzi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Internal Medicine Department, Respiratory Unit, Cystic Fibrosis Adult Center, and Cardiovascular Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Belmonte
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Internal Medicine Department, Respiratory Unit, Cystic Fibrosis Adult Center, and Cardiovascular Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Marco Schiavone
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Internal Medicine Department, Respiratory Unit, Cystic Fibrosis Adult Center, and Cardiovascular Unit, Milan, Italy
| | - Ciro Canetta
- Internal Medicine Unit, Crema Hospital, Lombardy, Italy
| | - Rakesh Gupta
- JROP Institute of Echocardiography, Delhi, India
| | - Francesco Blasi
- Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Internal Medicine Department, Respiratory Unit, Cystic Fibrosis Adult Center, and Cardiovascular Unit, Milan, Italy
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3
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Abushamat LA, McClatchey PM, Scalzo RL, Schauer I, Huebschmann AG, Nadeau KJ, Liu Z, Regensteiner JG, Reusch JEB. Mechanistic Causes of Reduced Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Type 2 Diabetes. J Endocr Soc 2020; 4:bvaa063. [PMID: 32666009 PMCID: PMC7334033 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvaa063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) has been rising in prevalence in the United States and worldwide over the past few decades and contributes to significant morbidity and premature mortality, primarily due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) is a modifiable cardiovascular (CV) risk factor in the general population and in people with T2D. Young people and adults with T2D have reduced CRF when compared with their peers without T2D who are similarly active and of similar body mass index. Furthermore, the impairment in CRF conferred by T2D is greater in women than in men. Various factors may contribute to this abnormality in people with T2D, including insulin resistance and mitochondrial, vascular, and cardiac dysfunction. As proof of concept that understanding the mediators of impaired CRF in T2D can inform intervention, we previously demonstrated that an insulin sensitizer improved CRF in adults with T2D. This review focuses on how contributing factors influence CRF and why they may be compromised in T2D. Functional exercise capacity is a measure of interrelated systems biology; as such, the contribution of derangement in each of these factors to T2D-mediated impairment in CRF is complex and varied. Therefore, successful approaches to improve CRF in T2D should be multifaceted and individually designed. The current status of this research and future directions are outlined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Layla A Abushamat
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | | | - Rebecca L Scalzo
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.,Rocky Mountain Regional VA, Aurora, Colorado.,Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Irene Schauer
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.,Rocky Mountain Regional VA, Aurora, Colorado.,Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Amy G Huebschmann
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.,Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Kristen J Nadeau
- Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Zhenqi Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
| | - Judith G Regensteiner
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.,Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Jane E B Reusch
- Department of Medicine, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado.,Rocky Mountain Regional VA, Aurora, Colorado.,Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
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4
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Huebschmann AG, Huxley RR, Kohrt WM, Zeitler P, Regensteiner JG, Reusch JEB. Sex differences in the burden of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular risk across the life course. Diabetologia 2019; 62:1761-1772. [PMID: 31451872 PMCID: PMC7008947 DOI: 10.1007/s00125-019-4939-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 183] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
By 2017 estimates, diabetes mellitus affects 425 million people globally; approximately 90-95% of these have type 2 diabetes. This narrative review highlights two domains of sex differences related to the burden of type 2 diabetes across the life span: sex differences in the prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes, and sex differences in the cardiovascular burden conferred by type 2 diabetes. In the presence of type 2 diabetes, the difference in the absolute rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) between men and women lessens, albeit remaining higher in men. Large-scale observational studies suggest that type 2 diabetes confers 25-50% greater excess risk of incident CVD in women compared with men. Physiological and behavioural mechanisms that may underpin both the observed sex differences in the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and the associated cardiovascular burden are discussed in this review. Gender differences in social behavioural norms and disparities in provider-level treatment patterns are also highlighted, but not described in detail. We conclude by discussing research gaps in this area that are worthy of further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy G Huebschmann
- Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS C263, 12348 E. Montview Boulevard, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rachel R Huxley
- College of Science, Health and Engineering, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- The George Institute for Global Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Wendy M Kohrt
- Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS C263, 12348 E. Montview Boulevard, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Division of Geriatric Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Department of Medicine, Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Philip Zeitler
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Judith G Regensteiner
- Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS C263, 12348 E. Montview Boulevard, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA
- Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA
- Division of Cardiology, University of Colorado School of Medicine (CU-SOM), Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Jane E B Reusch
- Center for Women's Health Research, University of Colorado School of Medicine, MS C263, 12348 E. Montview Boulevard, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Rocky Mountain Regional Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Aurora, CO, USA.
- Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
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5
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Stepping stones, milestones, and obstructing boulders. J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr 2016; 10:433-4. [PMID: 27528430 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcct.2016.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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6
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Shaw LJ, Kohli P, Chandrashekhar Y, Narula J. Cardiovascular Imaging of Women: We Have Come a Long Way But Still Have a Ways to Go. JACC Cardiovasc Imaging 2016; 9:502-3. [PMID: 27056169 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmg.2016.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Leslee J Shaw
- Emory Clinical Cardiovascular Research Institute, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Y Chandrashekhar
- University of Minnesota & VA Medical Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Jagat Narula
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York.
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Regensteiner JG, Golden S, Huebschmann AG, Barrett-Connor E, Chang AY, Chyun D, Fox CS, Kim C, Mehta N, Reckelhoff JF, Reusch JEB, Rexrode KM, Sumner AE, Welty FK, Wenger NK, Anton B. Sex Differences in the Cardiovascular Consequences of Diabetes Mellitus: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation 2015; 132:2424-47. [PMID: 26644329 DOI: 10.1161/cir.0000000000000343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 214] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Wenger NK. Women and coronary heart disease: a century after Herrick: understudied, underdiagnosed, and undertreated. Circulation 2012; 126:604-11. [PMID: 22850362 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.111.086892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Nanette K Wenger
- Emory University School of Medicine, Emory Heart and Vascular Center, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA.
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9
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A GENS-based approach to cardiovascular pharmacology: impact on metabolism, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Ther Deliv 2012; 2:1437-53. [PMID: 22826875 DOI: 10.4155/tde.11.117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pharmacological outcomes depend on many factors, with many of them being sexually dimorphic. Thus, physiological gender/sex (GENS) differences can influence pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and, thus, bioavailability and resulting in efficacy of treatment, meaning GENS differences should be an important consideration in therapeutics. In particular, drug response can change according to different hormonal environments. Therefore, GENS-specific differences have a particular clinical relevance in terms of drug delivery, especially for those substances with a narrow therapeutic margin. Since adverse effects are more frequent among women, safety is a key issue. Overall, the status of women, from a pharmacological point of view, is often different and less studied than that of men and deserves particular attention. Further studies focused on women's responses to drugs are necessary in order to make optimal pharmacotherapeutic decisions.
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11
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Affiliation(s)
- Nanette K Wenger
- Department of Medicine (Cardiology), Emory University School of Medicine, and Emory Heart and Vascular Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
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12
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Worrall-Carter L, Ski C, Scruth E, Campbell M, Page K. Systematic review of cardiovascular disease in women: assessing the risk. Nurs Health Sci 2011; 13:529-35. [PMID: 22070582 DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-2018.2011.00645.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death for women. In an effort to reduce cardiovascular burden for women, identifying risk factors and increasing awareness of sex differences are fundamental. This systematic review examines cardiovascular disease risk for women. A search of the literature was undertaken using key health databases. Search terms used were cardiovascular disease AND women OR gender. Additional references were manually identified from this literature; 58 articles were reviewed in total. On average, cardiovascular disease presents 10 years later in women compared to men. By this time, they are more likely to suffer from more comorbidities, placing them at higher risk. The complexity of cardiovascular disease identification in women is accentuated through atypical symptoms, and has the potential to lead to delayed and/or misdiagnosis. It is clear through identifying sex differentiation in cardiovascular risk factors that there has been an increased awareness of symptom presentation for women. In light of the sex differences in risk factors, sex-specific aspects should be more intensively considered in research/practice to improve clinical outcomes for female cardiovascular disease patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linda Worrall-Carter
- St Vincent's/ACU Centre for Nursing Research, Australian Catholic University, 486 Albert Street, Melbourne, Australia.
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Ballantyne AJ, Rogers WA. Sex Bias in Studies Selected for Clinical Guidelines. J Womens Health (Larchmt) 2011; 20:1297-306. [DOI: 10.1089/jwh.2010.2604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Angela J. Ballantyne
- Department of Primary Health Care and General Practice, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Otago University Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Wendy A. Rogers
- Philosophy Department & Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
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14
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Shioura KM, Farjah M, Geenen DL, Solaro RJ, Goldspink PH. Myofilament calcium sensitization delays decompensated hypertrophy differently between the sexes following myocardial infarction. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2010; 300:R361-8. [PMID: 21106909 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00321.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Contractile dysfunction is common to many forms of cardiovascular disease. Approaches directed at enhancing cardiac contractility at the level of the myofilaments during heart failure (HF) may provide a means to improve overall cardiovascular function. We are interested in gender-based differences in cardiac function and the effect of sarcomere activation agents that increase contractility. Thus, we studied the effect of gender and time on integrated arterial-ventricular function (A-V relationship) following myocardial infarction (MI). In addition, transgenic mice that overexpress the slow skeletal troponin I isoform were used to determine the impact of increased myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity following MI. Based on pressure-volume (P-V) loop measurements, we used derived parameters of cardiovascular function to reveal the effects of sex, time, and increased myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity among groups of post-MI mice. Analysis of the A-V relationship revealed that the initial increase was similar between the sexes, but the vascular unloading of the heart served to delay the decompensated stage in females. Conversely, the vascular response at 6 and 10 wk post-MI in males contributed to the continuous decline in cardiovascular function. Increasing the myofilament Ca(2+) sensitivity appeared to provide sufficient contractile support to improve contractile function in both male and female transgenic mice. However, the improved contractile function was more beneficial in males as the concurrent vascular response contributed to a delayed decompensated stage in female transgenic mice post-MI. This study represents a quantitative approach to integrating the vascular-ventricular relationship to provide meaningful and diagnostic value following MI. Consequently, the data provide a basis for understanding how the A-V relationship is coupled between males and females and the enhanced ability of the cardiovascular system to tolerate pathophysiological stresses associated with HF in females.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystyna M Shioura
- Department of Medicine, Section of Cardiology, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Leegaard M, Rustøen T, Fagermoen MS. Interference of Postoperative Pain on Women's Daily Life after Early Discharge from Cardiac Surgery. Pain Manag Nurs 2010; 11:99-107. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pmn.2009.04.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2008] [Revised: 02/23/2009] [Accepted: 04/19/2009] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Leegaard M, Nåden D, Fagermoen MS. Postoperative pain and self-management: women’s experiences after cardiac surgery. J Adv Nurs 2008; 63:476-85. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2008.04727.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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17
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Shioura KM, Geenen DL, Goldspink PH. Sex-related changes in cardiac function following myocardial infarction in mice. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2008; 295:R528-34. [PMID: 18550865 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.90342.2008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Recent awareness of cardiovascular diseases as a number one killer of the middle-aged women has prompted interest in sex differences leading to heart failure (HF). Therefore, we evaluated cardiac function in female and male mice following myocardial infarction (MI) using the Millar pressure-volume (P-V) conductance system in vivo, at time points corresponding to early (2 wk), late compensatory hypertrophy (4 wk), and decompensation (10 wk) to HF. A significant deterioration of the load dependent and independent hemodynamic measurements occurred in both female and male mice during the early phase of hypertrophy. Later, compensatory hypertrophy was marked by a normalization of volumes to control levels in females compared with males. The most notable differences between sexes occurred in the measurements of cardiac contractility during the decompensation to HF. In females, there was a significant improvement in contractility compared with males, which was apparent in the load-independent measurements of preload recruitable stroke work (10 wk post-MI, female=48.7+/-8.0 vs. male=25.2+/-1.8 mmHg, P<0.05) and maximum dP/dt vs. maximum end-diastolic volume (10 wk post-MI, female=359+/-58 vs. male=149+/-28 mmHg.s(-1).microl(-1), P<0.05). Despite these differences, there were no differences in the heart weight to body weight ratio and infarct size between the sexes. These data demonstrate that compensatory hypertrophy is associated with an improvement in contractility and a delayed decompensation to HF in females. However, compensatory hypertrophy in males appears to be undermined by a steady decline in contractility associated with decompensation to HF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krystyna M Shioura
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Department of Medicine/Section of Cardiology, 840 S. Wood St., M/C 715 Chicago, IL 60612, USA
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Ballantyne AJ, Rogers WA. Fair inclusion of men and women in Australian clinical research: views from ethics committee chairs. Med J Aust 2008; 188:653-6. [DOI: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01824.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2007] [Accepted: 11/05/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Wendy A Rogers
- Department of Medical Education, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine the proportion of male and female research participants and rates of sex-based analysis and sex-specific reporting in published Australian clinical research. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS We assessed 400 clinical studies involving Australian-only participants, published in journals between January 1, 2003, and May 31, 2006 (100 per year). Numbers of male and female participants in each study and presence or absence of analysis by sex (covariate adjustment, subgroup analysis, or sex-specific reporting) were recorded. Sex-specific studies were evaluated to determine whether the exclusion of one sex was biologically necessary. RESULTS The total sample comprised 546,824 participants, of whom 73% were female; 36 studies were male-only, 78 were female-only. Of the participants in 286 studies that were not sex-specific, 56% were female. Of 114 sex-specific studies, the segregation by sex was deemed to be biologically necessary in 62%, ie, the research related directly to male or female biological function. More than one-quarter (28%) of studies with 30 participants or more published covariate adjustment or subgroup analysis by sex; 7% included sex-specific reporting of results. CONCLUSION We found no routine exclusion of women; however, few publications analyzed results by sex. Some studies excluded women or men for apparently arbitrary reasons. Research performed with male-only participants differed in nature and size from that performed with female-only participants. These data indicate the need to track the sex of research participants. In addition, they provide the basis for assessing appropriate inclusion of men and women in research and for comparing any relationship between different international regulatory models and the rates of female participation in research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendy A Rogers
- Department of Medical Education, School of Medicine, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001 Australia.
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Hayes SN. Identification of women with heart disease: a missed opportunity. NATURE CLINICAL PRACTICE. CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE 2006; 3:522-3. [PMID: 16990833 DOI: 10.1038/ncpcardio0678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2006] [Accepted: 08/02/2006] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
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