313 - SEX-SPECIFIC ASSOCIATIONS OF CARDIOVASCULAR RISK FACTORS WITH SUBCLINICAL CARDIAC REMODELLING: A MAGNETIC RESONANCE IMAGING STUDY

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in women, yet it remains under-researched, diagnosed, and treated. This disparity extends to sex-specific risk factors for early CVD progression. Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 2 diabetes, influenced by consumption habits, are key risk factors. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) detects early cardiac remodelling through biomarkers such as the left ventricular mass to volume ratio (LVMV), indicating increased concentricity. This study aims to explore sex differences in subclinical cardiac remodelling associated with traditional cardiovascular (CV) risk factors to improve tailored prevention strategies.

METHODS AND RESULTS: We analyzed CMR and biodata of 622 age-matched individuals (49% males, mean age 52.9 ± 9.8; 51% females, mean age 52.7 ± 9.4) from the Courtois Cardiovascular Signature Program. Subclinical cardiac remodelling was assessed by measuring left ventricular (LV) concentricity (increased LVMV) on CMR images. Participants reported alcohol and sugar intake using a Likert scale (1: rarely or never; 5: 3-4 times per week). Kruskal-Wallis and multivariate regression analyses explored sex-specific relationships between CV risk factors and LVMV. Mean values are presented as mean ± standard deviation.

In the cohort, 20.6% of males and 17.4% of females had hypertension, and 9.8% of males and 6.0% of females had diabetes. Mean triglycerides were 1.84 ± 1.15 mmol/L for males and 1.44 ± 0.90 mmol/L for females. Males reported alcohol and sugar intake of 1.41 ± 0.43 and 2.28 ± 1.33 respectively on the Likert scale, with an LVMV of 0.92 ± 0.20g/ml. Females reported lower alcohol (1.25 ± 0.32) and sugar (1.73 ± 1.17) intake, with an LVMV of 0.77 ± 0.18g/ml.

Hypertension increased LVMV in both sexes (men: ß=0.193, p< 0.001; women: ß=0.170, p< 0.05). In males, triglycerides predicted LVMV (ß=0.182, p< 0.05), and alcohol consumption was greater than in women (H=19.41, p< 0.0001). In females, diabetes and sugar intake were associated with LVMV (ß=0.125 and ß=0.388, both p< 0.05).


Conclusion: This analysis identifies significant sex differences in how traditional CV risk factors, influenced by consumption patterns, impact subclinical cardiac remodelling. Hypertension affects CV remodelling in both sexes, while in males its dyslipidemia, reflected in triglycerides and more frequent alcohol consumption relative to women. Conversely, in females only, diabetes and frequent sugar consumption have a stronger impact on cardiac remodelling. These findings elucidate the varied impact of traditional CV risk factors on CVD progression in males and females and facilitate tailored approaches for managing CVD risk across the sexes.