What all physicians should know about women's health: a Delphi study.

Objectives: Over the past few decades, knowledge of women's health regarding sex and gender differences in health has increased but transfer of these new insights into medical education and clinical practice is lagging, resulting in substandard care for women compared with men. This study aimed to reach consensus on what all physicians taking care of women should know about women's health.

Methods: A Delphi study was executed involving statements prepared by experts in women's health across 10 medical specialties and a patient advisory board.

Current status and challenges of multi-omics research using animal models of atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis is an underlying cause of cardiovascular diseases (CVD) which account for most deaths worldwide. Use of diverse preclinical models of atherosclerosis has been implemental in understanding the underlying mechanisms, the implicated cell types, the genes and the molecules at play in the onset and progression of atherosclerotic plaques. Although significant research advancements have been made, further research is necessary to delve into factors influencing plaque types, site preference within the vasculature, interactions with adjacent tissues (liver, pancreas and perivascular adipose tissue), inflammation and sex-based disparities, among others.

European guidelines for hypertension in 2024: a comparison of key recommendations for clinical practice.

Hypertension is the most prevalent modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease and for cardiovascular and all-cause mortality globally. Suboptimal control of elevated blood pressure places a substantial burden on health-care systems worldwide. Several factors contribute to this suboptimal control, such as limited awareness of hypertension, lack of appropriate diagnosis and poor control of blood pressure among those with a diagnosis.

Divergent mechanisms of cardiovascular remodeling between men and women.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality. Notably, there are significant differences between men and women in the manifestation, progression, and outcome of CVD, as well as in therapeutic responses. Overall, premenopausal women show greater protection against adverse remodeling.

Anti-beta2-glycoprotein I IgG antibodies are associated with early-onset cryptogenic ischemic stroke.

Background: Previously undetected antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) potentially provide explanations for early-onset cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS). Prior association studies conducted over a decade ago were inconclusive and not focused on patients with CIS.

Methods: SECRETO is a multi-center case-control study enrolling patients aged 18-49 years with imaging-positive acute CIS and 1:1 matched stroke-free controls.

Sex-specific associations between blood pressure in early midlife and arterial stiffness 27 years later: The Hordaland Health Study.

Background And Aims: Little is known about sex-specific associations between elevated blood pressure (BP) in early midlife and presence of increased arterial stiffness later in life.

Methods: BP was measured in 1,127 women and 938 men, mean age 42 years (baseline), and categorized as non-elevated BP (<120/70mmHg), elevated BP (120-139/70-89mmHg) and hypertension (≥140/90mmHg). Increased arterial stiffness was identified as carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV) >10 m/s.

Associations of short-term blood pressure variability with presence and progression of organ damage over five years in ischaemic stroke survivors: the Norwegian Stroke in the Young Study.

Background/aim: Higher blood pressure (BP) variability (BPV) has been associated with cardiovascular organ damage in cross-sectional studies. Less is known about short-term BPV and organ damage during long-term management of young ischaemic stroke survivors.

Methods: Short-term weighted systolic BPV was assessed from ambulatory 24-hour BP recordings three months after the index stroke in 283 ischaemic stroke survivors aged 15-60 years in the prospective Norwegian Stroke in the young study (NOR-SYS).

Maternal intake of dietary protein from plant and animal sources and development of pharmacologically treated hypertension within 10 years after pregnancy.

Aims: To investigate associations between intake of protein from plant and animal sources and risk of development of pharmacologically treated hypertension (defined as antihypertensive medication usage >90 days after delivery) in a large population of Norwegian mothers followed up to 10 years after delivery.

Methods: Women in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) recruited between 2004-2008 were linked to the Norwegian Prescription Database (2004-2013) to ascertain antihypertensive medication usage. Women with hypertension before pregnancy were excluded, leaving 59,967 mothers for analyses.

Stronger Association Between Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness in Older Women than Men: The Hordaland Health Study.

Introduction: Sex differences in the life course development of brachial blood pressure (Bi et al. N Engl J Med, 2024. https://doi.

Burden of Modifiable Risk Factors in Young-Onset Cryptogenic Ischemic Stroke by High-Risk Patent Foramen Ovale.

Background: The incidence of young-onset ischemic stroke is rising, driven by cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS) and patients without vascular risk factors. This study examines the burden and associations of modifiable traditional, nontraditional, and female sex-specific risk factors with young-onset CIS, stratified by clinically relevant patent foramen ovale (PFO), defined by high-risk features of atrial septal aneurysm or large right-to-left shunt.

Methods: We enrolled consecutive patients aged 18 to 49 years with recent CIS and frequency-matched stroke-free controls of the same age and sex from 19 European sites.

Long-Term Trajectories of Left Heart Geometry, Mechanics, and Oxygen Demand After Bariatric Surgery.

Background: The long-term impact of bariatric surgery on cardiac mechanics and energetics has been scarcely documented. We aimed to assess prospectively the 5-year trajectories of left heart geometry, mechanics, and myocardial oxygen (O) demand after bariatric surgery.

Methods: In the Bariatric Surgery on the West Coast of Norway study, left ventricular (LV) and atrial remodeling was evaluated preoperatively, 6 months, and 1 and 5 years after Roux-en-Y gastric bypass in 102 patients.

Association Between Self-Perceived Stress and Cryptogenic Ischemic Stroke in Young Adults: A Case-Control Study.

Background And Objectives: Psychosocial stress is a potentially modifiable risk factor of early-onset ischemic stroke, with limited evidence suggesting a stronger association between stress and cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS) compared with strokes of known etiology. We aimed to explore the association between self-perceived stress and CIS, with subgroup analyses stratified by sex and age.

Methods: Young patients aged 18-49 years with a first-ever CIS and sex-matched and age-matched stroke-free controls from 19 European centers were included.

Prevalence of Periodontitis in a 70-Year-Old Population in Western Norway According to the ACES 2018 Classification Framework: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Aim: To assess the prevalence and severity of periodontitis in an older adult population in Western Norway using the periodontitis definition by the recently published ACES 2018 Classification Framework.

Materials And Methods: In the present study, 1298 70-year-old subjects answered a questionnaire and underwent a full-mouth periodontal examination. The prevalence of periodontitis, stages, extents and grades was presented according to the Framework applying the 2018 periodontal classification scheme in epidemiological survey (ACES).

Heart Failure in Atrial Fibrillation Subtypes in Women and Men in the Tromsø Study.

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) often coexist and impact morbidity and mortality. There is limited knowledge on the association of AF subtypes with HF according to sex.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to explore sex-specific associations between AF subtypes and subsequent HF, identifying HF risk factors in participants with AF, and exploring the combined impact on mortality.

Long-term pulse pressure trajectories and risk of incident atrial fibrillation: the Tromsø Study.

Background And Aims: Sex-based differences in the association of long-term trends in pulse pressure with future risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) have been explored using data from the population-based Tromsø Study 1986-2016.

Methods: Women (n = 8331) and men (n = 7638) aged ≥20 years who attended at least two of the three Tromsø Study surveys conducted between 1986 and 2001 (the exposure period) were followed up for incident AF throughout 2016 (the follow-up period). Pulse pressure ≥60 mmHg was considered elevated.

Low maternal iodine intake and subsequent risk of pharmacologically treated hypertension: A population-based prospective cohort study.

Background & Aims: Iodine deficiency is linked to multiple adverse health outcomes, but there is scarce knowledge regarding iodine intake and development of chronic hypertension. We aimed to investigate the prospective association between habitual dietary iodine intake and pharmacologically treated hypertension in mothers up to 10 years after delivery.

Methods: The present study is based on data from an ongoing pregnancy cohort and includes 58,629 women without thyroid dysfunction and hypertension at baseline.

Impact of sex-specific thresholds for low flow in assessment of prognosis in concordantly and discordantly graded aortic valve stenosis.

Aims: Sex-specific low flow was recently defined as stroke volume index (SVi) ≤ 40 mL/m² in men and ≤32 mL/m² in women. We tested the prognostic association of these cut-offs in patients with aortic stenosis (AS) with concordantly and discordantly graded AS [concordantly graded AS by energy loss (CGASEL) and discordantly graded AS by energy loss (DGASEL)] based on pressure recovery adjusted aortic valve area [energy loss (EL)].

Methods And Results: Data from 1351 patients with asymptomatic AS, peak jet velocity <4 m/s, and preserved left ventricular ejection fraction enrolled in the Simvastatin and Ezetimibe in Aortic Stenosis study were used.

Association of Left Atrial Stiffness With Risk of Cryptogenic Ischemic Stroke in Young Adults.

Background: Incidence of cryptogenic ischemic stroke (CIS) in young adults is increasing. Early left atrial (LA) myopathy might be 1 of the underlying mechanisms, but this has only been scarcely explored.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to assess the association between increased LA stiffness and CIS in young adults.