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Balafa O, Fernandez-Fernandez B, Ortiz A, Dounousi E, Ekart R, Ferro CJ, Mark PB, Valdivielso JM, Del Vecchio L, Mallamaci F. Sex disparities in mortality and cardiovascular outcomes in chronic kidney disease. Clin Kidney J 2024; 17:sfae044. [PMID: 38638550 PMCID: PMC11024840 DOI: 10.1093/ckj/sfae044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Sex (biologically determined) and gender (socially constructed) modulate manifestations and prognosis of a vast number of diseases, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). CVD remains the leading cause of death in CKD patients. Population-based studies indicate that women present a higher prevalence of CKD and experience less CVD than men in all CKD stages, although this is not as clear in patients on dialysis or transplantation. When compared to the general population of the same sex, CKD has a more negative impact on women on kidney replacement therapy. European women on dialysis or recipients of kidney transplants have life expectancy up to 44.8 and 19.8 years lower, respectively, than their counterparts of similar age in the general population. For men, these figures stand at 37.1 and 16.5 years, representing a 21% to 20% difference, respectively. Hormonal, genetic, societal, and cultural influences may contribute to these sex-based disparities. To gain a more comprehensive understanding of these differences and their implications for patient care, well-designed clinical trials that involve a larger representation of women and focus on sex-related variables are urgently needed. This narrative review emphasizes the importance of acknowledging the epidemiology and prognosis of sex disparities in CVD among CKD patients. Such insights can guide research into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms, leading to optimized treatment strategies and ultimately, improved clinical outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga Balafa
- Department of Nephrology, University Hospital of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | | | - Alberto Ortiz
- Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, IIS-Fundacion Jimenez Diaz UAM, Madrid, Spain
| | - Evangelia Dounousi
- Nephrology Dept, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ioannina and University Hospital of Ioannina. Ioannina, Greece
| | - Robert Ekart
- Department of Dialysis, Clinic for Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University Medical Centre Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Charles J Ferro
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Patrick B Mark
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Jose M Valdivielso
- Vascular and Renal Traslational Research Group, UDETMA, Biomedical Research Institute of Lleida, IRBLleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Lucia Del Vecchio
- Department of Nephrology and Dialysis, Sant'Anna Hospital, ASST Lariana, Como, Italy
| | - Francesca Mallamaci
- Department of Nephrology, Dialysis, and Transplantation Azienda Ospedaliera ‘Bianchi-Melacrino-Morelli’ & CNR-IFC, Reggio Calabria, Italy
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