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Sex Differences in Myocardial and Vascular Aging
Hongwei Ji1,2, Alan C Kwan3, Melanie T Chen3
1Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Shandong, China (H.J.).
Circulation Research
|February 17, 2022
Summary
Cardiovascular disease presents differently in aging men and women due to distinct genetic, hormonal, and exposure-related trajectories. Understanding these sex-specific differences is crucial for improving cardiovascular disease diagnosis and management in all aging adults.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Aging Research
- Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Disease
- Physiology and Pathophysiology
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) exhibits distinct manifestations in females and males, with underlying causes during aging not fully understood.
- Sex differences in cardiac and vascular phenotypes emerge early in life and follow divergent paths influenced by genetics, hormonal shifts, and environmental exposures.
- These lifelong variations contribute to sex-specific risks for major cardiovascular events like myocardial infarction, heart failure, and stroke later in life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize recent research on cardiovascular aging, focusing on clinically relevant findings in diverse populations.
- To highlight sex-specific differences in cardiac and vascular alterations throughout the lifespan.
- To inform improved diagnosis, management, and prognosis of cardiovascular disease in the aging population.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent cardiovascular aging-related research.
- Synthesis of studies examining sex differences in cardiac and vascular phenotypes.
- Analysis of clinical data from diverse female and male populations.
Main Results:
- Females exhibit smaller body size-adjusted cardiac volumes and greater age-related myocardial stiffening.
- Males and females show distinct blood pressure trajectories and vascular pathophysiology.
- Sex differences in cardiovascular aging appear to follow consistent patterns from early to late life.
Conclusions:
- Lifelong sex-specific cardiovascular trajectories significantly impact aging-related disease risk and presentation.
- Recognizing these differences is essential for personalized approaches to cardiovascular care in aging individuals.
- Further research integrating sex as a biological variable is needed to optimize cardiovascular health outcomes across the lifespan.
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