Sex and Reproductive History as Nontraditional Risk Factors for PAD

Area of Science:

• Cardiovascular Science
• Reproductive Health
• Atherosclerosis Research

Background:

• Established cardiovascular disease risk factors include sex and reproductive history.
• The specific relevance of these factors to peripheral artery disease (PAD) is not well understood.
• Atherosclerosis is a key process in PAD development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on the association between female sex, reproductive factors, and atherosclerosis, with a focus on PAD.
• To explore potential underlying mechanisms linking reproductive health and PAD.
• To identify gaps in knowledge and suggest future research directions.

Main Methods:

• This study is a narrative review of existing scientific literature.
• The review focuses on evidence concerning sex-specific risk factors and peripheral artery disease.
• Mechanisms and associations were examined based on published data.

Main Results:

• There is limited evidence directly linking general sex-specific risk factors to PAD.
• Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, and adverse pregnancy outcomes show significant associations with increased incident PAD.
• Further investigation into the mechanistic understanding of these associations is required.

Conclusions:

• Reproductive history, particularly adverse pregnancy outcomes, is associated with a higher risk of developing PAD in women.
• Increased clinical awareness of these links is crucial for early detection and prevention.
• Integrating reproductive history into cardiovascular risk assessments could personalize care and reduce PAD burden in women.