AUTHOR=Yu Shasha , Guo Xiaofan , Li GuangXiao , Yang Hongmei , Zheng Liqiang , Sun Yingxian 

TITLE=Gender discrepancies in predictors for newly onset cardiovascular events and metabolic syndrome in elderly patients from rural China

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cardiovascular-medicine/articles/10.3389/fcvm.2022.995128

DOI=10.3389/fcvm.2022.995128

ISSN=2297-055X

ABSTRACT=Objective: The study aimed to estimate the possible predictors of cardiovascular events (CVEs) in rural China's elderly with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Moreover, we also tried to find the potential risk factors for newly diagnosed MetS. 
Methods: The Northeast China Rural Cardiovascular Health Study (NCRCHS) is a community-based prospective cohort study carried out in rural areas of Northeast China. About 1059 elderly with MetS but no cardiovascular diseases and 1565 elderly without MetS at baseline were enrolled for this study. They underwent a physical examination, completed a questionnaire during 2012-2013, and were followed up during 2015-2017. Cox proportional hazards analysis was conducted to assess the possible predictors of newly developed CVEs, and multivariate analysis was used to estimate the risk factors of newly diagnosed MetS. 
Results: The common predictors of newly developed CVEs in both males and females were family history of stroke (HR [Hazard Ratios] female: 1.696; HR male: 2.504) and soybean consumption (HR female: 0.253; HR male: 0.130). Moreover, minority race (HR: 0.109), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (HR: 1.021), current drinking habits (HR: 2.551), family history of hypertension (HR: 2.297), LDL-C (HR: 1.669), 5000-20000 CNY/year annual income (HR: 0.290), and strenuous physical activity (HR: 0.397) were predictors of CVEs only in the male elderly. For newly diagnosed MetS, body mass index (OR female: 1.212; OR male: 1.207) and fasting blood glucose (OR female: 1.305; OR male: 1.217) were common risk factors in both genders, whereas age (OR:0.958) was protective factor in males and > 9-hour/day sleep duration (OR:0.212) was protective factors in females. In addition, SBP (OR:1.014), ≥ 4 times/day bean consumption (OR:1.955), and uric acid (OR:1.005) increased the risk of MetS in males but not females. 
Conclusion: Our study identified many effective predictors of CVEs in rural elderly with MetS and confirmed the presence of a gender-based discrepancy. Moreover, we also identified additional risk factors, along with the traditional ones, for newly diagnosed MetS in rural elderly.