Abstract
BackgroundDifferences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk between men and women have been widely reported. However, risk differences by gender-related characteristics (sociocultural characteristics) have been poorly studied, although these characteristics may associate with cardiovascular health. We explored associations of three gender-related characteristics with estimated CVD risk in men and women within various ethnic groups. MethodsWe used baseline data of 9185 participants of six ethnic groups of the HELIUS study (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), aged 40–65 years, without CVD and diabetes. We studied the associations of three gender-related characteristics (time per week doing household work, primary earner status, performing a male- or female-dominated occupation) with CVD risk as estimated with SCORE algorithm using linear regression analyses. Analyses were stratified by sex, and adjusted for age and socioeconomic status. Next, we explored whether associations differed across ethnic groups. ResultsIndividuals who were no primary earners had a 6% (beta 0.94; 95% CI 0.88–1.01; men) and 8% (beta 0.92; 95% CI 0.90–0.95; women) lower CVD risk than primary earners. Performing a female-dominated versus male-dominated occupation was associated with a 7% lower CVD risk in women (beta 0.93; 95% CI 0.88–0.99), but not in men. Time spent on household work was not associated with CVD risk. These associations were mostly consistent across ethnic groups. ConclusionMasculine gender-related characteristics were associated with a higher estimated CVD risk across ethnic groups, specifically, being the primary earner (men and women) and performing a male-dominated occupation (women). Our findings may in future help to identify specific high-risk groups.
Highlights
Differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and risk factors between men and women have been widely reported across populations [1,2,3]
In patients with premature acute coronary syndrome (ACS), Pelletier and colleagues created a composite score for gender based on several proxies for gender [19]
Studies on the variation of gender differences between ethnic groups in relation to cardiovascular health are lacking. In this population-based study, we explored differences in estimated CVD risk according to gender, as assessed by three gender-related characteristics in men and women in a multi-ethnic population in the Netherlands
Summary
Differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence and risk factors between men and women have been widely reported across populations [1,2,3]. In the general population, higher femininity scores (as measured by the Bem Sex-Role Inventory [BSRI]) [21] were associated with lower risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) mortality in men, but not in women [22] These contrasting results show that more research is needed to understand the role of gender in differences in CVD risk, in general populations . We studied the associations of three genderrelated characteristics (time per week doing household work, primary earner status, performing a male- or female-dominated occupation) with CVD risk as estimated with SCORE algorithm using linear regression analyses. Conclusion: Masculine gender-related characteristics were associated with a higher estimated CVD risk across ethnic groups, being the primary earner (men and women) and performing a male-dominated occupation (women). Our findings may in future help to identify specific high-risk groups
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