Sex-related differences of the aortic root in a middle-aged Mexican population: insights of a structural and functional assessment by cardiac computed tomography
Chango-Azanza, Diego Xavier; Chapa-Ibargüengoitia, Mónica; Vásquez-Ortiz, Zuilma; Rosales-Uvera, Sandra
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Specific aortic root (AR) features appear to have clinical and prognostic implications, and sex-related differences have been described previously. However, there is a lack of data on the Mexican population.
Objectives: To describe the sex-related variances regarding the AR qualities in a structural and functional analysis.
Material and methods: We analyzed information of cardiac computed tomography (CCT) of the AR in 71 Mexican patients having a three-leaflet aortic valve and without stenosis or history of aortic aneurysm. We divided the sample to describe the sex-specific disparities; it had 53.5% (n = 38) women and 46.5% men (n = 33). The median age was 56 years (interquartile range IQR: 49-64), with a similar prevalence of hypertension, diabetes, smoking, and dyslipidemia. Weight, height, and body surface area (BSA) stood significantly lower in females, without distinctions in body mass index (BMI). There were no relevant differences regarding systolic and diastolic aortic annulus (AA), eccentricity, and diastolic aortic angulation. Nevertheless, systolic aortic angulation was higher in ladies, and systolic annulus dimensions were significantly greater in men. The initial AR sizes were more prominent in men, but when indexed to BSA, they proved larger in women. A small AA was found in 71% of females and 18.1% in men, and a small AR was pointedly higher in men than women (30.3% versus 2.6%, p = 0.001).
Conclusions: Individual characteristics such as weight, height, and BSA had consequences in comparing aortic magnitudes. Sex-related disparities in these parameters, such as low physical stature in Mexican females, could explain the greater prevalence of small AA, especially when indexing dimensions to bodily height and the aortic features at different levels. The clinical implications of such findings remain unclear.