Sex Differences in Systemic and Coronary Arterial Hemodynamics in Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Abstract

Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) predominantly affects females. Systemic and coronary arterial abnormalities are present in HFpEF and may contribute to HFpEF in females. We performed a cross-sectional study of 32 participants with HFpEF and 26 controls. Arterial hemodynamics were noninvasively assessed by combining arterial tonometry with echocardiography. Coronary microvascular function was assessed by rubidium-82 positron emission tomography as the myocardial flow reserve. Coronary vascular resistance (CVR) at rest and vasodilator stress were calculated using positron emission tomography. CVR reserve was calculated as stress-rest CVR. Multivariable linear regression assessed the associations of female sex with arterial hemodynamics in participants with and without HF, and the association of HF with arterial hemodynamics within each sex stratum. Demographics and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function were similar between males and females. Among those with HFpEF, females had a higher steady and pulsatile arterial load and more impaired (less negative) CVR reserve than males. Conversely, in controls, females had similar hemodynamics to males. We then divided the sample based on sex. Femaleswith HFpEF had a higher pulsatile arterial load and higher stress CVR than control females. Among males, arterial hemodynamics were similar, regardless of HFpEF status. The measures of early pulsatile arterial load were independently associated with higher E/e' and lower myocardial flow reserve in females only. In conclusion, despite similar left ventricular function between sexes, older females with HFpEF are characterized by additional systemic and coronary arterial hemodynamic abnormalities compared with males with HFpEF and similarly aged females without HFpEF.