The effects of estrogen deficiency and aging on myocardial deformation and motion in normotensive female rats

Sex difference in the age-related decline of global longitudinal strain of left ventricle

Global longitudinal strain (GLS) is a valuable indicator of subclinical myocardial dysfunction. Whether the effect of aging on subclinical left ventricular dysfunction is sex-specific is not well documented. This study aimed to identify age-related changes in GLS according to sex in patients with a normal left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). In this cross-sectional, single-center cohort study in Korea, participants who underwent GLS measurement using 2D speckle-tracking echocardiography were retrospectively reviewed, and participants with normal LVEF (≥ 55%) without documented cardiovascular disease were included. Reduced GLS was defined as absolute values below 18%. Of 682 study participants (mean age, 58; female, 51.5%), 209 (30.6%) had reduced GLS. Females with reduced GLS were older than those with normal GLS (68 vs. 58 years, P < 0.001); with no difference of age in males (55 vs. 57 years; P = 0.265). Univariate analysis showed age to correlate significantly with reduced GLS only in female (r =  - 0.364; P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis, female > 66 years old had significantly higher risk of reduced GLS (Odds ratio 2.66; 95% CI 1.22-5.76; P = 0.014). In participants with normal LVEF, GLS decreased with age in females but not in males. Particularly, females aged 66 years and older had a significantly higher risk of reduced GLS. These findings suggest that GLS could be a valuable parameter for assessing subclinical cardiac dysfunction, especially in older females.

Research on risk factors of ischemic cerebrovascular disease in postmenopausal women based on the social-ecological model

Objective

Based on the social-ecological model, this study aimed to comprehensively explore factors affecting the risk of ischemic cerebrovascular disease (ICVD) in postmenopausal women to provide theoretical bases for further prevention and intervention for postmenopausal women.

Methods

Postmenopausal women who underwent medical examinations in one health-checkup agency in Tianjin from May 2015 to October 2015 were enrolled in this study. The ICVD 10-year Risk Assesment Form developed by the research team of the National "Tenth Five-Year Plan" research project was used to assess the factors affecting the risk of ICVD. Based on the social-ecological model, multiple types of scales, including physical activities, depression, Type D personality, social supports, and environment score, were used to comprehensively explore the factors associated with ICVD in postmenopausal women.

Results

300 valid questionnaires were obtained, with an effective rate of 92.0%. The subjects aged 44–74 years, with the average age of 62.06 ± 7.09 years. Among them, 58.67% of the subjects only obtained high-school diploma, 32.67% obtained college or university diploma, 90.33% were retirees, 95.33% were married, 92.33% experienced the natural menopause, 93.33% lived in urban or suburban areas, and 1.00% had a history of breast cancer. Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that monthly income (¥), parity, exposure to second-hand or third-hand smoke, easy access to healthy food, physical activities, depression, Type D personality, social support and environmental factors were associated with the risk of ICVD in postmenopausal women (P < 0.05). Among them, easy access to healthy food (OR = 0.242), social support (OR = 0.861) and environmental factors (OR = 0.866) were protective factors from ICVD. OR < 1 indicates that the exposure factor is negatively correlated with the disease, and the exposure factor has a protective effect on preventing the occurrence of the disease. Parity (OR = 3.795), exposure to second-hand or third-hand smoke (OR = 2.886), depression (OR = 1.193), and Type D personality (OR = 1.148) were risk factors of ICVD. OR > 1 means that the exposure factor is positively correlated with the disease, and the exposure factor increases the risk of disease occurrence.

Conclusions

For postmenopausal women, in the future, in addition to prevention and management of the conventional risks, the conditions of their mentality and social support should be paid attention to, at the same time, and if they can, try to choose a good community environment to live in, which could better reduce the incidence and mortality of ICVD in postmenopausal women.