Sex differences of cardiovascular risk factors in patients with symptomatic carotid disease
Milos Maksimović1, Hristina Vlajinac2, Djordje Radak3
1Institute of Hygiene and Medical Ecology, School of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia. milos.maksimovic@mfub.bg.ac.rs
Insights
This study found significant sex differences in atherosclerotic risk factors among patients with carotid disease in Serbia. While women had more metabolic syndrome components, the overall number of risk factors did not differ significantly between sexes.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular diseases, including heart disease and stroke, are the leading cause of death in Serbia.
- Atherosclerotic disease significantly contributes to cardiovascular mortality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate sex-based differences in atherosclerotic risk factors.
- To analyze these differences in patients diagnosed with symptomatic carotid disease.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 657 patients in Belgrade, Serbia.
- Patients had verified carotid atherosclerotic disease.
- Univariate logistic regression was used to analyze sex differences in anthropometric parameters and risk factors.
Main Results:
- Women showed higher frequencies of lower education, physical inactivity, metabolic syndrome (MetS), low HDL cholesterol, abdominal obesity, obesity (BMI ≥ 30.0 kg/m²), hypercholesterolemia, and depression compared to men.
- Men had higher rates of smoking and elevated serum uric acid.
- Women had a higher number of MetS components per person, but no significant sex differences were observed in the total count of other risk factors.
- Physical inactivity and hypertension were the most prevalent risk factors in both sexes.
Conclusions:
- Significant sex disparities exist in the distribution of certain atherosclerotic risk factors.
- The total number of risk factors per person did not significantly differ between men and women.
- Women exhibited a higher number of metabolic syndrome components.
Introduction:
Cardiovascular diseases, especially heart disease and stroke are the cause of more than a half of the total number of deaths in Serbia.
Objectives:
The aim of the present study was to determine sex differences of atherosclerotic risk factors in patients with symptomatic carotid disease.
Methods:
The cross-sectional study, involving 657 consecutive patients with verified carotid atherosclerotic disease, was performed in Belgrade, Serbia. Sex differences of anthropometric parameters and atherosclerotic risk factors were analyzed by means of the univariate logistic regression.
Results:
In comparison with men, lower education and physical inactivity were significantly more frequent in women, and the frequency of metabolic syndrome (MetS), lower high-density cholesterol, abdominal obesity, body mass index > or = 30.0 kg/m2, hypercholesterolemia and depression were also significantly higher in women. Smoking and high serum uric acid level were significantly more frequent in men than in women. Women had significantly higher number of MetS components per person, but there were no significant sex differences in the number of other risk factors. Out of all observed risk factors, including MetS components, physical inactivity and hypertension were most frequent in both sexes followed by ever smoking and low education in men and low education and dyslipidemia in women.
Conclusion:
There were significant sex differences in the distribution of some atherosclerotic risk factors, but not in their number per person. Only the number of MetS components was significantly higher in women.
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