Identification of sex-specific biomarkers predicting new-onset heart failure

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Biomarker Discovery
• Sex-Specific Medicine

Background:

• Heart failure (HF) affects men and women differently in pathophysiology, presentation, and progression.
• Limited research exists on sex-specific prediction of new-onset HF using biomarkers.
• Understanding sex differences in HF prediction is crucial for personalized medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the sex-specificity of 252 protein biomarkers in predicting new-onset heart failure (HF).
• To identify potential sex-specific biomarkers for incident HF.
• To explore differences in biomarker profiles between sexes at baseline.

Main Methods:

• A matched case-control design was employed using data from the HOMAGE consortium.
• 562 cases of new-onset HF and 780 controls were matched for cohort, follow-up time, and age.
• 252 plasma proteins were measured using Proximity Extension Assay technology.

Main Results:

• At baseline, women exhibited a biomarker profile indicative of activated metabolism and immune responses.
• No biomarkers showed a statistically significant interaction with sex in predicting new-onset HF.
• Four biomarkers (E-selectin, IL-1 receptor antagonist, IL17A, CHIT1) showed a trend towards sex-specificity (P < 0.013).

Conclusions:

• Most biomarkers associated with incident HF did not demonstrate significant sex-specific predictive value.
• Despite baseline differences in biomarker profiles, overall prediction for new-onset HF was not strongly sex-dependent.
• Further research may clarify the role of the four trending biomarkers in sex-specific HF prediction.