Throughout their lifetime, men are at higher risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) than women, however, after menopause this difference is attenuated. This observation suggests that endogenous sex hormones could be associated with CHD risk. There is some evidence indicating that the effect of sex hormones on CHD risk could be mediated, in part, by alterations in lipid levels or other CHD risk factors. However, other evidence supports an independent relationship of circulating hormone levels with CHD risk. For example, we recently reported a significant positive association between serum total testosterone concentration and the presence of subclinical coronary artery calcium (CAC) in young adult men that was independent of other CHD risk factors. Conversely, we showed an independent inverse association between total testosterone concentration and carotid intimal-medial wall thickness (IMT) in women. Overall, these results suggest that the influence of the hormonal milieu on subclinical atherosclerosis may not be the same in men compared to that in women. The overall objective of the proposed project is to examine the associations of serum sex hormone concentrations with the presence and progression of subclinical atherosclerosis in 3,259 male and 2,802 postmenopausal female participants of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Subclinical atherosclerosis will be identified using both CAC and carotid IMT. Progression will be identified by the change in CAC over 3.5 years. Circulating concentrations of total (and free) testosterone (T), dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), 17beta-estradiol (E2), and sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) in stored serum samples collected at the MESA baseline exam will be assessed. Laboratory results will be merged with existing demographic, anthropometric, lifestyle, CHD risk factor, and subclinical disease data collected in MESA. Cross-sectional and prospective methods of statistical analysis will be used to assess the proposed associations. MESA is particularly well suited for disentangling the effects of hormonal factors and CHD risk factors on subclinical atherosclerosis because of the availability of high-quality data, serum samples, and CAC and IMT measurements in a large multi-ethnic population of men and women.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
1R01HL074406-01
Application #
6677625
Study Section
Epidemiology and Disease Control Subcommittee 2 (EDC)
Program Officer
Bild, Diane
Project Start
2003-07-01
Project End
2007-06-30
Budget Start
2003-07-01
Budget End
2004-06-30
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$281,250
Indirect Cost
Name
Johns Hopkins University
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
001910777
City
Baltimore
State
MD
Country
United States
Zip Code
21218
Subramanya, Vinita; Zhao, Di; Ouyang, Pamela et al. (2018) Sex hormone levels and change in left ventricular structure among men and post-menopausal women: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Maturitas 108:37-44
Subramanya, Vinita; Ambale-Venkatesh, Bharath; Ohyama, Yoshiaki et al. (2018) Relation of Sex Hormone Levels With Prevalent and 10-Year Change in Aortic Distensibility Assessed by MRI: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. Am J Hypertens 31:774-783
Subramanya, Vinita; Zhao, Di; Ouyang, Pamela et al. (2018) Association of endogenous sex hormone levels with coronary artery calcium progression among post-menopausal women in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). J Cardiovasc Comput Tomogr :
Zhao, Di; Guallar, Eliseo; Ouyang, Pamela et al. (2018) Endogenous Sex Hormones and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Post-Menopausal Women. J Am Coll Cardiol 71:2555-2566
Colangelo, Laura A; Ouyang, Pamela; Golden, Sherita Hill et al. (2017) Do sex hormones or hormone therapy modify the relation of n-3 fatty acids with incident depressive symptoms in postmenopausal women? The MESA Study. Psychoneuroendocrinology 75:26-35
Zhao, Di; Ouyang, Pamela; de Boer, Ian H et al. (2017) Serum vitamin D and sex hormones levels in men and women: The Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA). Maturitas 96:95-102
Blaha, Michael J; Yeboah, Joseph; Al Rifai, Mahmoud et al. (2016) Providing Evidence for Subclinical CVD in Risk Assessment. Glob Heart 11:275-285
Jenny, Nancy Swords; Olson, Nels C; Allison, Matthew A et al. (2016) Biomarkers of Key Biological Pathways in CVD. Glob Heart 11:327-336.e3
Polak, Joseph F; O'Leary, Daniel H (2016) Carotid Intima-Media Thickness as Surrogate for and Predictor of CVD. Glob Heart 11:295-312.e3
McKibben, Rebeccah A; Al Rifai, Mahmoud; Mathews, Lena M et al. (2016) Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease in Women. Curr Cardiovasc Risk Rep 10:

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