Sex Hormones and Heart Failure Risk

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 22, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Relationship Between Lipotoxicity and HFpEF
03:42

Author Spotlight: Exploring the Relationship Between Lipotoxicity and HFpEF

Published on: March 29, 2024

1.4K

Imo A Ebong1, Duke Appiah2, Rina Mauricio3

  • 1Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, University of California-Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.

JACC. Advances
|March 15, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Sex hormones (SHs) play a complex role in heart failure (HF) risk, with age-related changes and disruptions in HF affecting both sexes differently. Further research is needed to explore SH levels for early HF detection and treatment strategies.

Area of Science:

  • Endocrinology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Heart failure (HF) is a major global health concern, contributing significantly to morbidity and mortality.
  • Epidemiological evidence suggests a link between sex hormones (SHs) and HF pathophysiology, though findings are sometimes inconsistent.
  • Age-related decline in SH levels induces physiological changes that differentially influence HF risk in men and women.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the intricate relationship between sex hormones and heart failure.
  • To explore how age-related changes in sex hormone levels impact heart failure risk across sexes.
  • To understand the disruption of sex hormone feedback loops in chronic heart failure and its implications.

Main Methods:

  • This study is a review of epidemiological and physiological data.
  • Analysis of existing literature on sex hormones, aging, and heart failure.
  • Examination of the feedback mechanisms regulating sex hormones in healthy and heart failure states.

Main Results:

  • Sex hormone levels decline with age, leading to sex-specific alterations in heart failure risk.
  • Chronic heart failure disrupts the complex feedback loops regulating sex hormones, creating a detrimental cycle.
  • Alterations in the androgenic balance by sex hormones may differentially affect heart failure risk in males and females.

Conclusions:

  • Sex hormones are implicated in heart failure development and progression, with distinct effects in men and women.
  • Further research is warranted to determine if measuring sex hormone levels can aid in early identification of at-risk individuals and guide intensive treatment strategies for heart failure patients.

Keywords:
androgensestrogenheart failuresex hormonestestosterone

More Related Videos

Implantation of an Isoproterenol Mini-Pump to Induce Heart Failure in Mice05:08

Implantation of an Isoproterenol Mini-Pump to Induce Heart Failure in Mice

Published on: October 3, 2019

11.1K
A Surgical Model of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction in Tibetan Minipigs07:09

A Surgical Model of Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction in Tibetan Minipigs

Published on: February 18, 2022

1.5K

Related Concept Videos

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
1.4K
Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System01:26

Heart Failure Drugs: Inhibitors of Renin-Angiotensin System

The activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) contributes to cardiac remodeling, and inhibiting the RAAS is a pharmacological target in heart failure management. As a result, neurohumoral modulation is a crucial treatment principle for managing heart failure. This approach involves using medications like ACE inhibitors (ACEIs), angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), β-blockers, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs), and neutral...
356
Heart Failure Drugs: β-Blockers01:22

Heart Failure Drugs: β-Blockers

β-adrenergic antagonists, commonly known as β-blockers, block the effects of sympathetic neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (ADR). They have several beneficial effects in heart failure treatment. They reduce heart rate, the force of contraction, and cardiac muscle relaxation. They also slow the atrial-ventricular conduction rate and raise the threshold for arrhythmias. The concentration of β-blockers determines their effects on bronchodilation,...
300
Heart Failure Drugs: Diuretics01:22

Heart Failure Drugs: Diuretics

Heart failure and kidney perfusion are interconnected in a complex way. Reduced renal perfusion and venous congestion are two significant factors that contribute to renal dysfunction in heart failure. The kidneys, primarily responsible for fluid balance in the body, are adversely affected due to compromised cardiac output and increased venous pressure. In response to reduced renal perfusion, the kidneys activate neurohumoral mechanisms to restore balance. However, these mechanisms can be...
313
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
23
Factors Influencing Heart Rate01:30

Factors Influencing Heart Rate

The heart rate, or pulse rate, is a vital indicator of cardiovascular health. It reflects the number of times the heart beats per minute. Various physiological and environmental factors influence heart rate, increasing or decreasing cardiac output. Understanding these factors is crucial for assessing heart function and identifying potential health issues.
Let us explore the significant factors affecting heart rate, including age, body temperature, posture, acute pain, chemical influences,...
2.2K