Paradoxical Higher Myocardial Wall Stress and Increased Cardiac Remodeling Despite Lower Mass in Females

Background Increased left ventricular (LV) mass is characterized by increased myocardial wall thickness and/or ventricular dilatation that is associated with worse outcomes. We aim to comprehensively compare sex-stratified associations between measures of LV remodeling and increasing LV mass in the general population. Methods and Results Participants were prospectively recruited in the National Heart Center Singapore Biobank to examine health and cardiovascular risk factors in the general population. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance was performed in all individuals. Participants with established cardiovascular diseases and abnormal cardiovascular magnetic resonance scan results were excluded. Global and regional measures of LV remodeling (geometry, function, interstitial volumes, and wall stress) were performed using conventional image analysis and novel 3-dimensional machine learning phenotyping. Sex-stratified analyses were performed in 1005 participants (57% males; 53±13 years). Age and prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors were well-matched in both sexes ( >0.05 for all). Progressive increase in LV mass was associated with increased concentricity in either sex, but to a greater extent in females. Compared with males, females had higher wall stress (mean difference: 170 mm Hg,