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Sex comparisons across different indices of vascular health in recreationally active healthy adults

12 hours ago
2 min read

Eur J Appl Physiol. 2026 Jul 3.

doi: 10.1007/s00421-026-06335-1.

Rian Q Landers-Ramos, Olivia C Zakrewski 


Abstract


Introduction: The presence of sex differences in various vascular assessments in younger to middle-aged adults is inconsistent in the literature.


Purpose: Determine whether sex differences are present across four different indices of vascular health.


Methods: Healthy, recreationally active premenopausal females (N = 30) and similarly aged males (N = 30) aged 18-54 yrs performed four vascular assessments. Assessments included resting augmentation index (AIx%), carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV, ms- 1), and simultaneous digital thermal monitoring (temperature rebound; TR%) and near-infrared spectroscopy-based microvascular reactivity (10s reperfusion slope; slope 2, %s- 1).


Results: AIx (p = 0.006) was significantly lower in males vs. females. Sex differences were eliminated after covarying for mean adjusted height (8.9 ± 9.1% vs. 16.8 ± 11.9% in males and females, respectively; p = 0.360) or when examining a subset of individuals (N = 14 males and N = 14 females) with similar body height (13.0 ± 8.7% vs. 16.4 ± 7.9% in males and females, respectively; p = 0.286). Cf-PWV was significantly higher in males (6.0 ± 0.8 ms- 1) vs. females (5.2 ± 0.7 ms- 1; p < 0.001). We found no differences between males and females in TR (1.2 ± 1.1% vs. 1.1 ± 0.8%, respectively; p = 0.771), or StO2 slope 2 (2.2 ± 0.6%s- 1 vs. 1.9 ± 0.9%s- 1, respectively; p = 0.254).


Conclusions: After accounting for confounding variables, differences in cf-PWV were detected between sexes, while sex differences in other assessments of vascular health were not observed.


Keywords: Arterial stiffness; Microvascular reactivity; Sex difference; Vascular health.



Representative tracings of the a digital thermal monitoring and b StO2 signal during the vascular occlusion test. Tests were performed simultaneously and consisted of five minutes of baseline testing, 5 min of limb occlusion, and 5 min of reperfusion
Representative tracings of the a digital thermal monitoring and b StO2 signal during the vascular occlusion test. Tests were performed simultaneously and consisted of five minutes of baseline testing, 5 min of limb occlusion, and 5 min of reperfusion

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