Sex and Cardiovascular Function in Relation to Vascular Brain Injury in Patients with Cognitive Complaints

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Sanne Kuipers ◽  
Geert Jan Biessels ◽  
Jacoba P. Greving ◽  
Raquel P. Amier ◽  
Jeroen de Bresser ◽  
...  

Background: Emerging evidence shows sex differences in manifestations of vascular brain injury in memory clinic patients. We hypothesize that this is explained by sex differences in cardiovascular function. Objective: To assess the relation between sex and manifestations of vascular brain injury in patients with cognitive complaints, in interaction with cardiovascular function. Methods: 160 outpatient clinic patients (68.8±8.5 years, 38% female) with cognitive complaints and vascular brain injury from the Heart-Brain Connection study underwent a standardized work-up, including heart-brain MRI. We calculated sex differences in vascular brain injury (lacunar infarcts, non-lacunar infarcts, white matter hyperintensities [WMHs], and microbleeds) and cardiovascular function (arterial stiffness, cardiac index, left ventricular [LV] mass index, LV mass-to-volume ratio and cerebral blood flow). In separate regression models, we analyzed the interaction effect between sex and cardiovascular function markers on manifestations of vascular brain injury with interaction terms (sex*cardiovascular function marker). Results: Males had more infarcts, whereas females tended to have larger WMH-volumes. Males had higher LV mass indexes and LV mass-to-volume ratios and lower CBF values compared to females. Yet, we found no interaction effect between sex and individual cardiovascular function markers in relation to the different manifestations of vascular brain injury (p-values interaction terms > 0.05). Conclusion: Manifestations of vascular brain injury in patients with cognitive complaints differed by sex. There was no interaction between sex and cardiovascular function, warranting further studies to explain the observed sex differences in injury patterns.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marianna Török ◽  
Petra Merkely ◽  
Anna Monori-Kiss ◽  
Eszter Mária Horváth ◽  
Réka Eszter Sziva ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We aimed to identify sex differences in the network properties and to recognize the geometric alteration effects of long-term swim training in a rat model of exercise-induced left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Methods Thirty-eight Wistar rats were divided into four groups: male sedentary, female sedentary, male exercised and female exercised. After training sessions, LV morphology and function were checked by echocardiography. The geometry of the left coronary artery system was analysed on pressure-perfused, microsurgically prepared resistance artery networks using in situ video microscopy. All segments over > 80 μm in diameter were studied using divided 50-μm-long cylindrical ring units of the networks. Oxidative-nitrative (O-N) stress markers, adenosine A2A and estrogen receptor (ER) were investigated by immunohistochemistry. Results The LV mass index, ejection fraction and fractional shortening significantly increased in exercised animals. We found substantial sex differences in the coronary network in the control groups and in the swim-trained animals. Ring frequency spectra were significantly different between male and female animals in both the sedentary and trained groups. The thickness of the wall was higher in males as a result of training. There were elevations in the populations of 200- and 400-μm vessel units in males; the thinner ones developed farther and the thicker ones closer to the orifice. In females, a new population of 200- to 250-μm vessels appeared unusually close to the orifice. Conclusions Physical activity and LV hypertrophy were accompanied by a remodelling of coronary resistance artery network geometry that was different in both sexes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J H Kuneman ◽  
G K Singh ◽  
S Milhorini Pio ◽  
K Hirasawa ◽  
N Ajmone Marsan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Women with severe aortic valve stenosis (AS) have better long-term outcomes after transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) but worse survival after surgical aortic valve replacement compared to men. Whether this is related to sex differences in left ventricular (LV) remodeling is unknown. Purpose To examine sex differences in LV remodeling and outcomes in patients with severe AS undergoing TAVI. Methods Patients with severe AS who underwent TAVI between 2007 and 2018 with a pre-procedural multidetector row computed tomography (MDCT) scan were included. LV volumes, mass and function were analyzed with MDCT. Patients were classified into 4 LV remodeling patterns based on LV mass index and LV mass-to-volume ratio: 1) normal geometry, 2) concentric remodeling, 3) concentric hypertrophy and 4) eccentric hypertrophy. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality after TAVI. Results A total of 289 patients (age 80±6 years, 54% male) were included. Women showed smaller LV volumes and mass compared to men. Concentric hypertrophy (50%) was the most frequent pattern of LV remodeling followed by eccentric hypertrophy (33%), normal geometry (13%) and concentric remodeling (4%). Concentric remodeling was more frequently observed in men compared to women (91% vs. 9% respectively, p=0.011). However, no sex differences were observed in the remaining LV remodeling patterns (Figure 1). During a median follow-up of 3.8 (IQR 2.2–5.1) years after TAVI, 87 patients died. Women demonstrated better outcome after TAVI compared to men (log-rank χ2=4.29, p=0.038). The survival benefit of women over men was mainly present among patients with concentric hypertrophy (log-rank χ2=4.91, p=0.027, Figure 2). Conclusion LV concentric and eccentric hypertrophy are similarly observed in men and women with severe AS. Women demonstrated better outcome after TAVI as compared to men, particularly among those with LV concentric hypertrophy. However, the outcome benefit of females after TAVI seems not to be related to sex-differences in LV remodeling. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Distribution of sex in LV remodeling All-cause mortality after TAVI


2017 ◽  
Vol 177 (4) ◽  
pp. 319-327 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjana Barjaktarovic ◽  
Tim I M Korevaar ◽  
Romy Gaillard ◽  
Yolanda B de Rijke ◽  
Theo J Visser ◽  
...  

Objective The cardiovascular system is a known target for thyroid hormone. Early-life cardiovascular alterations may lead to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Little is known about the effects of thyroid hormone on cardiovascular function during childhood, including the role of body composition in this association. Design Population-based prospective cohort of children (n = 4251, median age 6 years, 95% range: 5.7–8.0 years). Methods Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and free thyroxine (FT4) concentrations were measured to assess thyroid function. Left ventricular (LV) mass was assessed with echocardiography. Arterial stiffness was assessed with carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (CFPWV). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP) was measured. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan. Results FT4 was inversely associated with LV mass (P = 0.002), and with lean body mass (P < 0.0001). The association of FT4 with LV mass was partially mediated through variability in lean body mass (55% mediated effect). TSH was inversely associated with LV mass (P = 0.010), predominantly in boys. TSH was positively associated with systolic and diastolic BP (both P < 0.001). FT4 was positively associated with CFPWV and diastolic BP (P < 0.0001, P = 0.008, respectively), and the latter association attenuated after adjustment for CFPWV. Conclusions At the age of 6 years, higher FT4 is associated with lower LV mass (partially through effects on lean body mass) and with higher arterial stiffness, which may lead to higher BP. Our data also suggest different mechanisms via which TSH and FT4 are associated with cardiovascular function during early childhood.


Circulation ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 130 (suppl_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Costantino Mancusi ◽  
Eva Gerdts ◽  
Raffaele Izzo ◽  
Valentina Trimarco ◽  
Marina De Marco ◽  
...  

Introduction: In clinical trials, women achieve less regression of hypertensive LV hypertrophy (LVH) than men. Whether this is evident also in less selective hypertensive patients is uncertain. Hypothesis: Find sex-differences in LV mass changes during hypertensive treatment. Methods: We evaluated 6969 hypertensive patients with follow-up>12 months (43% women, 53±11 years) from the Campania Salute Network Registry, during a 4-year median follow up. Clinical and echocardiographic data from baseline and last visit during follow-up were used. Results: At baseline, women were older, had higher systolic blood pressure (BP) and heart rate, lower diastolic BP, Framingham Risk Score and renal function, and included more patients with obesity and LVH (all p<0.001 vs. men). Despite optimal BP control in 62% of patients, LV mass increased over time in the total population, similarly in males and females, whereas relative wall thickness increased only in females (all p<0.0001). Percent change in LVM was positively related to follow-up duration and change in systolic BP, diastolic BP and body mass index (BMI) in both sexes (all p<0.0001). During follow-up, women, but not men, exhibited significant increase in BMI (both p<0.0001). After adjusting for age, follow-up duration, changes in BP and BMI, LV mass increased in the presence of both controlled and uncontrolled BP, but in men the change was less evident when BP was controlled (all p<0.001). In subgroups with baseline LVH (by sex-specific LVM normalized by height2.7), LV mass decreased over time in men, but increased in women (p<0.001). Conclusions: In hypertensive, Caucasian outpatients participating in the Campania Salute Network registry, lack of reduction in LV mass was particularly evident in women, independently of confounders including age, duration of follow-up, changes in BP and BMI, with negligible benefit of BP control on LVH.


2011 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rohola Hemmati ◽  
Mojgan Gharipour ◽  
Hasan Shemirani ◽  
Alireza Khosravi ◽  
Elham Khosravi ◽  
...  

Background:Appearance of microalbuminuria, particularly in patients with hypertension, might be associated with a higher prevalence of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and geometric abnormalities. This study was undertaken to determine whether high urine albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR) as a sensitive marker for microalbuminuria can be associated with LV hypertrophy (LVH) and systolic and diastolic LV dysfunction.Methods:The study population consisted of 125 consecutive patients with essential uncomplicated hypertension. Urine albumin and creatinine concentration was determined by standard methods. LVH was defined as a LV mass index >100 g/m2 of body surface area in women and >130 g/m2 in men. Echocardiographic LV systolic and diastolic parameters were measured.Results:The prevalence of microalbuminuria in patients with essential hypertension was 5.6 %. UACR was significantly no different in patients with LVH than in patients with normal LV geometry (21.26 ± 31.55 versus 17.80 ± 24.52 mg/mmol). No significant correlation was found between UACR measurement and systolic and diastolic function parameters, including early to late diastolic peak velocity (E/A) ratio (R=-0.192, p=0.038), early diastolic peak velocity to early mitral annulus velocity (E/E') ratio (R=-0.025, p=0.794), LV ejection fraction (R=0.008, p=0.929), and LV mass (R=-0.132, p=0.154). According to the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, UACR measurement was not an acceptable indicator of LVH with areas under the ROC curves 0.514 (95 % confidence interval 0.394–0.634). The optimal cut-off value for UACR for predicting LVH was identified at 9.4, yielding a sensitivity of 51.6 % and a specificity of 48.3 %.Conclusion:In patients with uncomplicated essential hypertension, abnormal systolic and diastolic LV function and geometry cannot be effectively predicted by the appearance of microalbuminuria.


2011 ◽  
pp. 119-125
Author(s):  
Thi Thuy Hang Nguyen

Objective: Prehypertensive individuals are at increased risk for developing hypertension and their complication. Many studies show that 2/3 prehypertensive individuals develop hypertension after 4 years. ECG and echocardiography are the routine tests used to assess LV mass. The objective of the research to determine the percentage of change in left ventricular morphology in the ECG, echocardiography, which explore the characteristics of left ventricular structural changes by echocardiography in pre-hypertensive subjects. Materials and method: We studied a total of 50 prehypertensive, 30 males (60%) and 20 females (40%), mean age 48.20±8.47years. 50 normotensive volunteers as control participants. These subjects were examined for ECG and echocardiography. Results: In prehypertensive group, with 18% of left ventricular hypertrophy on electrocardiogram, 12% of left ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiography; in the control group, we did not find any subjects with left ventricular hypertrophy. In the group with left ventricular hypertrophy, mostly eccentric left ventricular hypertrophy (83.33%), concentric left ventricular hypertrophy is 16.67%. Restructuring of left ventricular concentric for 15.9% of subjects without left ventricular hypertrophy on echocardiography. Conclusion: There have been changed in left ventricular morphology even in prehypertensive


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (7) ◽  
pp. 1506-1511
Author(s):  
Cerasela Mihaela Goidescu ◽  
Anca Daniela Farcas ◽  
Florin Petru Anton ◽  
Luminita Animarie Vida Simiti

Oxidative stress (OS) is increased in chronic diseases, including cardiovascular (CV), but there are few data on its effects on the heart and vessels. The isoprostanes (IsoP) are bioactive compounds, with 8-iso-PGF25a being the most representative in vivo marker of OS. They correlate with the severity of heart failure (HF), but because data regarding OS levels in different types of HF are scarce, our study was aimed to evaluate it by assessing the urinary levels of 8-iso-PGF2aand its correlations with various biomarkers and parameters. Our prospective study included 53 consecutive patients with HF secondary to ischemic heart disease or dilative cardiomyopathy, divided according to the type of HF (acute, chronic decompensated or chronic compensated HF). The control group included 13 hypertensive patients, effectively treated. They underwent clinical, laboratory - serum NT-proBNP, creatinine, uric acid, lipids, C reactive protein (CRP) and urinary 8-iso-PGF2a and echocardiographic assessment. HF patients, regardless the type of HF, had higher 8-iso-PGF2a than controls (267.32pg/�mol vs. 19.82pg/�mol, p[0.001). The IsoP level was directly correlated with ejection fraction (EF) (r=-0.31, p=0.01) and NT-proBNP level (r=0.29, p=0.019). The relative wall thickness (RWT) was negatively correlated with IsoP (r=-0.55, p[0.001). Also 8-iso-PGF25a was higher by 213.59pg/�mol in the eccentric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy subgroup comparing with the concentric subgroup (p=0.014), and the subgroups with severe mitral regurgitation (MR) and moderate/severe pulmonary hypertension (PAH) had the highest 8-iso-PGF2a levels. Male sex, severe MR, moderate/severe PAH, high LV mass and low RWT values were predictive for high OS level in HF patients.Eccentric cardiac remodeling, MR severity and PAH severity are independent predictors of OS in HF patients.


Author(s):  
Vidhu Anand ◽  
Garvan C Kane ◽  
Christopher G Scott ◽  
Sorin V Pislaru ◽  
Rosalyn O Adigun ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims  Cardiac power is a measure of cardiac performance that incorporates both pressure and flow components. Prior studies have shown that cardiac power predicts outcomes in patients with reduced left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (EF). We sought to evaluate the prognostic significance of peak exercise cardiac power and power reserve in patients with normal EF. Methods and results  We performed a retrospective analysis in 24 885 patients (age 59 ± 13 years, 45% females) with EF ≥50% and no significant valve disease or right ventricular dysfunction, undergoing exercise stress echocardiography between 2004 and 2018. Cardiac power and power reserve (developed power with stress) were normalized to LV mass and expressed in W/100 g of LV myocardium. Endpoints at follow-up were all-cause mortality and diagnosis of heart failure (HF). Patients in the higher quartiles of power/mass (rest, peak stress, and power reserve) were younger and had higher peak blood pressure and heart rate, lower LV mass, and lower prevalence of comorbidities. During follow-up [median 3.9 (0.6–8.3) years], 929 patients died. After adjusting for age, sex, metabolic equivalents (METs) achieved, ischaemia/infarction on stress test results, medication, and comorbidities, peak stress power/mass was independently associated with mortality [adjusted hazard ratio (HR), highest vs. lowest quartile, 0.5, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4–0.6, P &lt; 0.001] and HF at follow-up [adjusted HR, highest vs. lowest quartile, 0.4, 95% CI (0.3, 0.5), P &lt; 0.001]. Power reserve showed similar results. Conclusion  The assessment of cardiac power during exercise stress echocardiography in patients with normal EF provides valuable prognostic information, in addition to stress test findings on inducible myocardial ischaemia and exercise capacity.


Author(s):  
Sahrai Saeed ◽  
Anastasia Vamvakidou ◽  
Spyridon Zidros ◽  
George Papasozomenos ◽  
Vegard Lysne ◽  
...  

Abstract Aims It is not known whether transaortic flow rate (FR) in aortic stenosis (AS) differs between men and women, and whether the commonly used cut-off of 200 mL/s is prognostic in females. We aimed to explore sex differences in the determinants of FR, and determine the best sex-specific cut-offs for prediction of all-cause mortality. Methods and results Between 2010 and 2017, a total of 1564 symptomatic patients (mean age 76 ± 13 years, 51% men) with severe AS were prospectively included. Mean follow-up was 35 ± 22 months. The prevalence of cardiovascular disease was significantly higher in men than women (63% vs. 42%, P &lt; 0.001). Men had higher left ventricular mass and lower left ventricular ejection fraction compared to women (both P &lt; 0.001). Men were more likely to undergo an aortic valve intervention (AVI) (54% vs. 45%, P = 0.001), while the death rates were similar (42.0% in men and 40.6% in women, P = 0.580). A total of 779 (49.8%) patients underwent an AVI in which 145 (18.6%) died. In a multivariate Cox regression analysis, each 10 mL/s decrease in FR was associated with a 7% increase in hazard ratio (HR) for all-cause mortality (HR 1.07; 95% CI 1.03–1.11, P &lt; 0.001). The best cut-off value of FR for prediction of all-cause mortality was 179 mL/s in women and 209 mL/s in men. Conclusion Transaortic FR was lower in women than men. In the group undergoing AVI, lower FR was associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, and the optimal cut-off for prediction of all-cause mortality was lower in women than men.


2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (Supplement_2) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Fukui ◽  
P Sorajja ◽  
M Goessl ◽  
R Bae ◽  
B Sun ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Data on changes in left atrial (LA) and left ventricular (LV) volumes after transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) are limited. Purpose This study sought to describe the anatomical and functional changes in left-sided cardiac chambers by computed tomography angiography (CTA) from baseline to 1-month after TMVR with Tendyne prosthesis. Methods We analyzed patients who underwent TMVR with Tendyne prosthesis (Abbott Structural, Menlo Park, CA) between 2015 and 2018. Changes in LV end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), ejection fraction (LVEF), mass (LV mass), LA volume and global longitudinal strain (GLS) were assessed at baseline and at 1-month after TMVR with CTA. Specific Tendyne implant characteristics were identified and correlated with remodeling changes. Results A total of 36 patients (mean age 73±8 years, 78% men, 86% secondary MR) were studied. There were significant decreases in LVEDV (268±68 vs. 240±66ml, p&lt;0.001), LVEF (38±10 vs. 32±11%, p&lt;0.001), LV mass (126±37 vs. 117±32g, p&lt;0.001), LA volume (181±74 vs. 174±70 ml, p=0.027) and GLS (−12.6±5.1 vs. −9.5±4.0%, p&lt;0.001) from baseline to 1-month follow-up. Favorable LVEDV reverse-remodeling occurred in the majority (30 of 36 patients, or 83%). Closer proximity of the Tendyne apical pad to the true apex was predictive of favorable remodeling (pad distance: 25.0±7.7 vs. 33.5±8.8mm, p=0.02 for those with and without favorable remodeling). Conclusions TMVR with Tendyne results in favorable left-sided chamber remodeling in the majority of patients treated, as detected on CTA at 1-month after implantation. CTA identifies the favorable post-TMVR changes, which could be related to specific characteristics of the device implantation. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None


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