Age-related alterations in cardiac and arterial structure and function in hypertensive women and men

The study was to compare age-related alterations in cardiac and arterial structure and function by sex and to explore the impacts of achieved systolic blood pressure (SBP; <130 mm Hg vs. <140 mm Hg) level on age-related alterations in cardiac and arterial structure and function in hypertensive women and men. Community hypertensive individuals without cardiovascular disease who had echocardiographic examination were included. Age-related alterations in cardiac and arterial structure and function were compared by sex, and interplay between age and sex was analyzed according to achieved SBP level. The mean age of the cohort was 66.5 years, and women accounted for 62% (n = 602) of the cohort (n = 971). Compared to men, women had worse left ventricular (LV) diastolic function and greater LV and arterial stiffness. After adjusting for covariates, the magnitude of the associations between age with septal E/e' ratio, septal S' velocity, effective arterial elastance (Ea) and LV end-diastolic elastance (Eed) were greater in women. Sex differences in the magnitude of association between age with these four indices varied according to achieved SBP level. When achieved SBP <130 mm Hg, the magnitude of the associations between age with septal E/e' ratio, septal S' velocity, Ea and Eed did not differ by sex. Since age and sex are non-modifiable, achieving SBP target, especially at a lower level, might be beneficial to attenuate sex differences in age-related alterations in cardiac and arterial structure and function.