Sex differences in the relationship between body composition and cardiac structure and function.

Aims: The purpose of this study was to characterize sex differences in the relationship between body composition and cardiac structure and function. In secondary analyses, we explored pathophysiologic mediators of these relationships.

Methods And Results: In a cross-sectional analysis of 25,063 UK Biobank participants (54% female, median age 55 years), the sex-specific associations of visceral adipose tissue volume (VAT), appendicular lean mass (ALM), and muscle fat infiltration (MFI) with cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) measures of cardiac structure and function were assessed using linear regression models.