Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 5, 2026
Cutoff Value of Phase Angle by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis at Admission as a Prognostic Factor in Patients with Acute Heart Failure
Published on: June 10, 2025
Biomarkers in ACS and heart failure: should men and women be interpreted differently?
Shweta R Motiwala1, Amy Sarma, James L Januzzi
1Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA;
Insights
Sex differences in biomarker concentrations for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and heart failure (HF) exist, but their clinical impact on diagnosis and prognosis in men versus women requires further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Biomarker Research
- Sex-Based Medicine
Background:
- Sex-based variations are observed in biomarker concentrations for acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and heart failure (HF).
- Limited research has compared the diagnostic and prognostic value of these biomarkers between men and women.
- Biomarkers are crucial for clinical decisions in ACS and HF patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review studies on sex differences in biomarker concentrations in ACS and HF.
- To examine comparative studies on the diagnostic and prognostic utility of biomarkers in men versus women.
- To discuss the clinical implications of potential sex-based differences in biomarker reference limits.
Main Methods:
- Mini-review of published literature.
- Analysis of studies comparing biomarker concentrations between sexes in ACS and HF.
- Evaluation of studies comparing biomarker utility for diagnosis and risk stratification in men versus women.
Main Results:
- Some studies indicate differences in biomarker concentration distributions between men and women.
- The clinical significance of these observed sex-based differences in biomarker levels is not yet clear.
- Potential sex-specific differences in the pathophysiology of ACS and HF may influence biomarker utility.
Conclusions:
- While biomarker concentration distributions may differ by sex, their clinical implications remain uncertain.
- Further research is necessary to fully understand the diagnostic and prognostic utility of biomarkers in men versus women.
- Investigating sex-specific pathophysiological differences is key to evaluating biomarker performance.
Background:
Sex-based differences exist in the circulating concentrations of certain novel and established biomarkers in patients with acute coronary syndromes (ACS) and heart failure (HF). However, to date, few studies have compared the diagnostic and prognostic utility of these markers in men vs women.
Content:
This mini-review contains a discussion of the published reports of studies that have explored whether differences in biomarker concentrations exist between men and women with ACS or HF. It also examines those studies that have compared the utility of biomarkers for diagnosis or risk stratification in women vs men. Because biomarkers are often used to make therapeutic and triage decisions in patient care, the potential clinical implications for any observed differences in biomarker reference limits for men and women is discussed.
Summary:
Although the concentration distributions may differ between men and women for certain biomarkers in clinical use, the clinical implications of these observations remain unclear. Because elements of the pathophysiology of ACS and HF may differ between the sexes, further research is needed to better evaluate the diagnostic and prognostic utility of biomarkers in men vs women.
More Related Videos
04:05Author Spotlight: Unveiling Prognostic Indicators in Heart Failure - The Role of Phase Angle and Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis
Published on: June 30, 2023
08:51Author Spotlight: Integrated Multi-Omics Analysis for Unveiling Multicellular Immune Signatures in Clinical Heart Attack Cohorts
Published on: September 20, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome III: Diagnostic Studies
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:19Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations
01:19Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System II: CRP, Hcy, and Cardiac Natriuretic Peptide Markers
These markers indicate stress or strain on the heart muscle:
Natriuretic Peptides (BNP)
Cardiac myocytes produce these hormones in response to ventricular stretching...
01:30Acute Coronary Syndrome I: Introduction
01:29Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology