Loss of Chromosome Y in Leukocytes and Major Cardiovascular Events

It has been observed for centuries that men have a shorter lifespan than women. The current difference globally is on average 4 years, and the difference is even larger in populations with longer life expectancy, for example, ≈6 years in the European Union and 7 years in Japan.1 A larger difference in populations with higher longevity suggests that the underlying factors are stronger in populations with a large part of the mortality related to age-associated diseases. Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of death globally and are increasing.2 The share of total mortality that is because of cardiovascular diseases is similar in both sexes, but men fall ill and die from it at a younger age. Cardiovascular disease risk factors are equally important for men and women.3 Hence, the age differences in incidence and mortality between men and women are because of other reasons than differential environmental risk factor exposures. Recent discoveries on pathological effects from a male-specific genetic risk factor—loss of chromosome Y (LOY) in blood cells—can partly explain the observed sex difference in longevity. Analyses by Haitjema et al4 in this issue of Circulation: Cardiovascular Genetics describe a previously unknown association between LOY in blood cells and major cardiovascular events. See Article by Haitjema et al A high prevalence …