Gender aspects of cardiac and carotid arteries remodeling and estimation of load test in watch workers in the Arctic

Objective. To define gender aspects of subclinical atherosclerosis and evaluate interrelation of cardiac and carotid arteries (CA) remodeling with the results of the load test in the watch workers in the Arctic.

Design and methods. Within a periodic health examination during one year, 743 males and 213 females doing watch work in the Arctic were examined selectively. CA ultrasound examinations, echocardiography treadmill test and 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring were performed.

Results. In the northern watch conditions, the rate of random thickening of intima-media complex (IMC) is equal in males and females and is related to age. Atherosclerotic plaques (AP) in CA were found twice more often in males than in females. In males, IMC thickening correlated with age, watch work duration and BP, whereas AP presence was also associated with left ventricular (LV) remodeling type, 24-hour BP profile and poorly with treadmill test results. CA structure alterations in females were influenced by age and LV remodeling only. Normal average BP was found in hypertensive patients (34,9 % males and 42,1 % females) according to 24-hour BP monitoring. Log-linear analysis showed association between AP in CA lumen and average daily BP in males (by 19,5 %) and in females (by 1,1 %).

Conclusions. In the northern watch conditions, subclinical carotid atherosclerosis has significant gender differences and is present twice more often in males than in females. It is associated with age, 24-hour BP profile and mildly with office and average daily BP, significantly with LV concentric hypertrophy and concentric remodeling and poorly with treadmill test results. Further studies are required to find key determinants of the atherosclerosis to decrease cardiovascular risk in the Arctic watch workers.

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