Prospective analysis of gender-related characteristics in relation to cardiovascular disease

Resource type: Publication Publication
  • Authors
    Renee Bolijn , Anton E Kunst, Yolande Appelman, Henrike Galenkamp,Eric P Moll van Charante, Karien Stronks, Hanno L Tan,Irene GM van Valkengoed
  • Type
    Original research
  • Journal
    Heart
  • Publication Date
    2022
  • Abstract

    Objective: Differences in cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence between men and women have been widely reported. Next to sex-related (biological) characteristics, gender-related (sociocultural) characteristics may partly explain how these differences arise. In this exploratory study, we examined the associations between selected gender-related characteristics and CVD incidence.

    Methods: We linked baseline data of 18 058 participants without CVD from the population-based, multiethnic HEalthy LIfe in an Urban Setting study (Amsterdam, the Netherlands) to CVD incidence data, based on hospital admission and death records from Statistics Netherlands in 2013–2018. Using Cox regression analyses, we studied associations of time spent on household work, doing home repairs, primary earner status, type of employment, working in a male dominated or female-dominated occupation and desire for emotional support with CVD incidence, stratified by sex. Analyses were adjusted for age, ethnicity and socioeconomic status.

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The term ‘sex’ is generally used to describe biological characteristics, while ‘gender’ is used to address social constructs. Sex and gender are intertwined and interconnect with other key drivers of health, such as age, socioeconomic position, race, and ethnicity. Despite growing recognition of the impact of gender in CVD, studies investigating the impact of gender-related characteristics on the onset of CVD are scarce. This paper aimed to assess the relationship between six gender-related characteristics and the risk of incident cardiovascular disease in women and men, both at a relative and absolute scale. While the study did not quantify sex interactions, it serves as an exemplar for further studies on the role of sex and gender in cardiovascular disease onset.