Abstract P173: Sex Differences In Risk Factors For Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among US Women And Men

Abstract

Ling Tian, Amanda H. Anderson, Kirsten S. Dorans, Marie A. Krousel-wood, Joshua D. Bundy Introduction: Previous studies suggest cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors differ among women compared with men. Quantifying sex differences in the associations of risk factors for CVD mortality in US nationally representative data could aid researchers and clinicians in improving the efficiency of primordial prevention of CVD. Hypothesis: Associations of systolic blood pressure (SBP), total cholesterol, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), body mass index (BMI), current smoking, and predicted 10-year risk of atherosclerotic CVD with CVD mortality differ among women compared with men, and these sex differences are modified by age. Methods: Data from non-pregnant and non-breastfeeding participants aged ≥40 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2006, linked to the National Death Index through December 31, 2015, were analyzed. Multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) for CVD mortality. Interaction terms were used to model associations by age (40-49, 50-59, and ≥60 years) and sex (women and men) subgroups. Results: 9,486 participants (mean age, 57.7; 51.9% women) were included in the current analysis. During an average 12.3-year follow-up, we observed 807 (8.5%) CVD deaths (328 in women; 479 in men). Associations of risk factors with CVD mortality were similar among women compared with men, although they were attenuated with increasing age (Figure). Conclusions: Among both US women and men, higher levels of SBP, smoking, and predicted 10-year ASCVD risk are strongly associated with higher risk of CVD mortality. Population-level interventions targeting these risk factors as early as possible in US men and women could reduce the burden of CVD.