Sex, gender, and stroke recovery: Functional limitations and inpatient care needs in Canadian and European survivors.

Background: Stroke is a leading cause of long-term disability among survivors. Past literature already investigated the biological sex differences in stroke outcome; still limited work on gender differences is published. Therefore, the study aimed at investigating whether biological sex and sociocultural gender of survivors play a role as determinants of disability and quality of life among stroke survivors across Europe and Canada.

Sex Differences in the Association Between Vascular Risk Factors and Cognitive Decline: A UK Biobank Study.

Background: Age-related cognitive decline is accelerated by vascular risk factors for cerebral small vessel disease. However, the association of vascular risk factors with cerebral small vessel disease contributing to the sex differences in cognitive decline remains unclear.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate sex differences in cognitive decline and the association between vascular risk factors and cognitive decline by sex.

Integrating gender analysis into research: reflections from the Gender-Net Plus workshop.

Gender equality has been a crosscutting issue in Horizon 2020 with three objectives: gender balance in decision-making, gender balance and equal opportunities in project teams at all levels, and inclusion of the gender dimension in research and innovation content. Between 2017 and 2022, the EU funded, in collaboration with national agencies, 13 transnational projects under "GENDER-NET Plus" that explored how to best integrate both sex and gender into studies ranging from social sciences, humanities, and health research. As the projects neared completion, forty researchers from these interdisciplinary teams met in November 2022 to share experiences, discuss challenges, and consider the best ways forward to incorporate sex and gender in research.

Heterogeneity of coronary vascular function and myocardial oxygenation in women with angina and non-obstructive coronary artery disease.

Aims: Women with angina and non-obstructive coronary artery disease (ANOCA) have a heightened risk for cardiovascular events, and the pathophysiology for ischaemic symptoms may be related to alterations in microvascular structure and function. We examined the use of breathing-enhanced oxygenation-sensitive cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (OS-CMR) using vasoactive breathing manoeuvres to assess myocardial oxygenation in women with ANOCA.

Methods And Results: We recruited women (aged 40-65 years) from two sites in Canada who presented to healthcare with persistent retrosternal chest pain and found to have ANOCA, or without a history of cardiovascular disease.

Gender-Related Factors Associated With Outcomes of Acute Coronary Syndrome in Young Female Patients.

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) remains a significant global health concern, with a growing recognition of its impact on young adults, particularly young female adults. Although gender-related factors, defined as a social construct that encompasses 4 distinct dimensions (gender roles, gender identity, gender relations, and institutionalized gender) are undoubtedly relevant across age groups, young female patients with ACS face specific challenges and disparities in outcomes, compared to other populations. This narrative review examines the role of gender-related factors-specifically, gender roles, gender identity, gender relations, and institutionalized gender-in influencing objective and subjective ACS outcomes in young female patients.

Administrative data ICD-10 diagnostic codes identifies most lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 admissions but misses many discharged from the Emergency Department.

We estimated the operating characteristics of ICD-10 code U07.1, introduced by the World Health Organization in 2020, to identify lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2. CCEDRRN is a national research registry of adults (March 2020-August 2021) with suspected/confirmed SARS-CoV-2 identified in Canadian emergency departments (EDs) using chart review (symptoms, clinical information, and lab test results including SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction, PCR results).

Are Socioeconomic Factors Associated With Atrial Fibrillation Sex-Dependent? A Narrative Review.

Atrial fibrillation (AF), the most prevalent cardiac arrhythmia, poses a significant public health and economic burden. Although socioeconomic factors such as income and education have been implicated in AF incidence and outcomes, the potential sex-specific associations remained underexplored. This narrative review aimed to fill this gap by synthesizing existing literature on the sex-specific impact of socioeconomic factors on AF incidence, treatment, and outcome.

Association of marital/partner status with hospital readmission among young adults with acute myocardial infarction.

Introduction: Despite evidence supporting the benefits of marriage on cardiovascular health, the impact of marital/partner status on the long-term readmission of young acute myocardial infarction (AMI) survivors is less clear. We examined the association between marital/partner status and 1-year all-cause readmission and explored sex differences among young AMI survivors.

Methods: Data were from the VIRGO study (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients), which enrolled young adults aged 18-55 years with AMI (2008-2012).

Sex Differences in the Association of Age at Hypertension Diagnosis With Brain Structure.

Background: Sex differences exist in the likelihood of cognitive decline. The age at hypertension diagnosis is a unique contributor to brain structural changes associated with cerebral small vessel disease. However, whether this relationship differs between sexes remains unclear.

Guidelines on the use of sex and gender in cardiovascular research.

In cardiovascular research, sex and gender have not typically been considered in research design and reporting until recently. This has resulted in clinical research findings from which not only all women, but also gender-diverse individuals have been excluded. The resulting dearth of data has led to a lack of sex- and gender-specific clinical guidelines and raises serious questions about evidence-based care.

Sex differences in the perception of cardiovascular risk in familial hypercholesterolemia.

Background: Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH), a common genetic condition, is characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) and premature atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Recent data indicate an undertreatment of females with FH.

Objective: To characterize the role of sex in the perception of FH, its associated ASCVD risk and treatment.

Role of sex and gender-related variables in development of metabolic syndrome: A prospective cohort study.

Introduction: The burden of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and its components has been increasing mainly amongst male individuals. Nevertheless, clinical outcomes related to MetS (i.e.

Impact of Sex and Gender on Metabolic Syndrome in Adults: A Retrospective Cohort Study From the Canadian Primary Care Sentinel Surveillance Network.

Objective: Metabolic syndrome (MetS), a cluster of 5 interconnected factors, is the main contributor to cardiovascular disease. Although sex- and gender-related elements have been linked to MetS and its components, this association has not been explored among Canadians with or without MetS. In this study, we aimed to identify sex and gender differences in characteristics of MetS in the Canadian population.

Impact of Marital Stress on 1-Year Health Outcomes Among Young Adults With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Background Stress experienced in a marriage or committed relationship may be associated with worse patient-reported outcomes after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but little is known about this association in young adults (≤55 years) with AMI. Methods and Results We used data from VIRGO (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients), an observational cohort study that enrolled individuals aged 18 to 55 years with AMI (2008-2012). Marital stress was self-reported 1 month after AMI using the Stockholm Marital Stress Scale (categorized as absent/mild, moderate, and severe).

Importance of accounting for timing of time-varying exposures in association studies: Hydrochlorothiazide and non-melanoma skin cancer.

Purpose: Hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ), a widely prescribed antihypertensive drug with photosensitising properties, has been linked with non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) risk. However, previous analyses did not fully explore if and how the impact of past HCTZ exposures accumulates with prolonged use and/or depends on time elapsed since exposures. Therefore, we used different models to more comprehensively assess how NMSC risk vary with HCTZ exposure, and explore how the results may depend on modeling strategies.

Impact of Sex- and Gender-Related Factors on Length of Stay Following Non-ST-Segment-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: A Multicountry Analysis.

Background Gender-related factors are psycho-socio-cultural characteristics and are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in acute myocardial infarction, independent of sex. Whether sex- and gender-related factors contribute to the substantial heterogeneity in hospital length of stay (LOS) among patients with non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction remains unknown. Methods and Results This observational cohort study combined and analyzed data from the GENESIS-PRAXY (Gender and Sex Determinants of Cardiovascular Disease: From Bench to Beyond Premature Acute Coronary Syndrome study), EVA (Endocrine Vascular Disease Approach study), and VIRGO (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI [Acute Myocardial Infarction] Patients study) cohorts of adults hospitalized across Canada, the United States, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, and Australia for non-ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.

Skin Cancer and Hydrochlorothiazide: Novel Population-Based Analyses Considering Personal Risk Factors Including Race/Ethnicity.

Background: Hydrochlorothiazide, a common antihypertensive, has photosensitive properties, potentially increasing skin cancer risk. We evaluated melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancer among hydrochlorothiazide users with 3 different cohorts as each allows assessment of different potential cofounders/effect modifiers, including race/ethnicity.

Methods: We built 3 cohorts using IBM MarketScan Research Databases: Commercial and Encounters (>3.

Association of Marital/Partner Status with Hospital Readmission Among Young Adults With Acute Myocardial Infarction.

Introduction: Despite evidence supporting the benefits of marriage on cardiovascular health, the impact of marital/partner status on the long-term readmission of young acute myocardial infarction (AMI) survivors is less clear. We aimed to examine the association between marital/partner status and 1-year all-cause readmission, and explore sex differences, among young AMI survivors.

Methods: Data were from the VIRGO study (Variation in Recovery: Role of Gender on Outcomes of Young AMI Patients), which enrolled young adults aged 18-55 years with AMI (2008-2012).

Sex Differences in the Effectiveness of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers, and Sacubitril-Valsartan for the Treatment of Heart Failure.

Background PARAGON-HF (Efficacy and Safety of LCZ696 Compared to Valsartan, on Morbidity and Mortality in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction) suggested a potential benefit of sacubitril-valsartan in women with preserved ejection fraction. Among patients with heart failure previously treated with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) or angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARBs), we studied whether effectiveness of treatment with sacubitril-valsartan compared with ACEI/ARB monotherapy differed between men and women for both preserved and reduced ejection fraction. Methods and Results Data were derived from the Truven Health MarketScan Databases between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2018.

Young Women With Acute Myocardial Infarction: Risk Prediction Model for 1-Year Hospital Readmission.

Background: Although young women ( aged ≤ 55 years) are at higher risk than similarly aged men for hospital readmission within 1 year after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), no risk prediction models have been developed for them. The present study developed and internally validated a risk prediction model of 1-year post-AMI hospital readmission among young women that considered demographic, clinical, and gender-related variables.

Methods: We used data from the US ariation n Recovery: ole of ender on utcomes of Young AMI Patients (VIRGO) study (n = 2007 women), a prospective observational study of young patients hospitalized with AMI.

Age and Sex Determine Electrocardiogram Parameters in the .

Cardiovascular diseases represent the leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide, and age is an important risk factor. Preclinical models provide supportive evidence toward age-related cardiac changes, as well as allow for the study of pathological aspects of the disease. In the present work, we evaluated the electrocardiogram (ECG) recording in the during the aging process in both females and males.