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Published on: December 9, 2013
Gender differences in developmental programming of cardiovascular diseases
John Henry Dasinger1, Barbara T Alexander2
1Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Center for Women's Health Research, Center for Developmental Disorders Research, University of Mississippi Medical Center, 2500 N State Street, Jackson, MS 39216, U.S.A.
Insights
Low birth weight, influenced by early life growth, increases cardiovascular disease risk. This review explores how sex differences impact this programmed risk, especially with aging.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Cardiovascular health
- Public health
Background:
- Hypertension is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, a leading global cause of death.
- The developmental origins of health and disease (DOHaD) hypothesis links early-life growth and environmental exposures to later-life cardiovascular risk.
- Sex influences cardiovascular risk in experimental models, but its role in programmed hypertension related to early life is understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review current data on sex differences in the developmental programming of blood pressure.
- To examine how early-life factors influence cardiovascular risk across the lifespan, considering sex-specific effects.
- To highlight the impact of aging on sex differences in programmed cardiovascular risk.
Main Methods:
- Review of epidemiological studies linking early-life influences to later cardiovascular health.
- Analysis of experimental models demonstrating mechanisms of developmental origins of chronic disease.
- Synthesis of existing literature on sex differences in blood pressure regulation and cardiovascular outcomes.
Main Results:
- Early-life growth and adverse exposures are recognized contributors to programmed cardiovascular risk.
- Sex impacts the severity of cardiovascular risk in response to developmental insults.
- Limited research exists on sex-specific blood pressure and cardiovascular health in low-birth weight individuals, and the influence of aging on these differences.
Conclusions:
- Early-life factors significantly influence long-term cardiovascular health, with sex playing a crucial role.
- Further research is needed to understand sex differences in developmental programming of hypertension and cardiovascular disease, particularly across the lifespan.
- Investigating sex-specific impacts of aging on programmed cardiovascular risk is essential for targeted prevention strategies.
Abstract:
Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Although multiple factors contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension, studies by Dr David Barker reporting an inverse relationship between birth weight and blood pressure led to the hypothesis that slow growth during fetal life increased blood pressure and the risk for cardiovascular disease in later life. It is now recognized that growth during infancy and childhood, in addition to exposure to adverse influences during fetal life, contributes to the developmental programming of increased cardiovascular risk. Numerous epidemiological studies support the link between influences during early life and later cardiovascular health; experimental models provide proof of principle and indicate that numerous mechanisms contribute to the developmental origins of chronic disease. Sex has an impact on the severity of cardiovascular risk in experimental models of developmental insult. Yet, few studies examine the influence of sex on blood pressure and cardiovascular health in low-birth weight men and women. Fewer still assess the impact of ageing on sex differences in programmed cardiovascular risk. Thus, the aim of the present review is to highlight current data about sex differences in the developmental programming of blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.
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