Sex-based differences in cardiovascular proteomic profiles and their associations with adverse outcomes in patients with chronic heart failure.

Background: Studies focusing on sex differences in circulating proteins in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are scarce. Insight into sex-specific cardiovascular protein profiles and their associations with the risk of adverse outcomes may contribute to a better understanding of the pathophysiological processes involved in HFrEF. Moreover, it could provide a basis for the use of circulating protein measurements for prognostication in women and men, wherein the most relevant protein measurements are applied in each of the sexes. Methods: In 382 patients with HFrEF, we performed tri-monthly blood sampling (median follow-up: 25 [13–31] months). We selected all baseline samples and two samples closest to the primary endpoint (PEP: composite of cardiovascular death, heart transplantation, left ventricular assist device implantation, and HF hospitalization) or censoring. We then applied an aptamer-based multiplex proteomic assay identifying 1105 proteins previously associated with cardiovascular disease. We used linear regression models and gene-enrichment analysis to study sex-based differences in baseline levels. We used time-dependent Cox models to study differences in the prognostic value of serially measured proteins. All models were adjusted for the MAGGIC HF mortality risk score and p-values for multiple testing. Results: In 104 women and 278 men (mean age 62 and 64 years, respectively) cumulative PEP incidence at 30 months was 25% and 35%, respectively. At baseline, 55 (5%) out of the 1105 proteins were significantly different between women and men. The female protein profile was most strongly associated with extracellular matrix organization, while the male profile was dominated by regulation of cell death. The association of endothelin-1 (Pinteraction < 0.001) and somatostatin (Pinteraction = 0.040) with the PEP was modified by sex, independent of clinical characteristics. Endothelin-1 was more strongly associated with the PEP in men (HR 2.62 [95%CI, 1.98, 3.46], p < 0.001) compared to women (1.14 [1.01, 1.29], p = 0.036). Somatostatin was positively associated with the PEP in men (1.23 [1.10, 1.38], p < 0.001), but inversely associated in women (0.33 [0.12, 0.93], p = 0.036). Conclusion: Baseline cardiovascular protein levels differ between women and men. However, the predictive value of repeatedly measured circulating proteins does not seem to differ except for endothelin-1 and somatostatin. Highlights: Baseline levels of circulating proteins related to extracellular matrix organization were dominant in women, while those related to regulation of cell death were dominant in men. A significant interaction is present between sex and the circulating proteins endothelin-1 and somatostatin, in the longitudinal associations with adverse cardiovascular outcome. Even if circulating proteins entail similar risk in women and men, the use of the same thresholds in both sexes to ascertain the risk of future cardiovascular events may not result in equitable risk stratification, because of sex differences in baseline levels combined with underlying differences in risk of adverse events. Altogether, inherent sex differences in baseline levels may reflect sex differences in disease risk, suggesting that a sex-specific interpretation could be beneficial when circulating proteins are used for risk prediction in patients with chronic HF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]