“GENDER VARIATION EFFECT OF CHANGE IN POSTURE AMONGST HEALTHY YOUNG ADULTS”

Abstract

Background: Women are at less risk of coronary heart disease and of serious arrhythmias as compared to their male counterparts, with women lagging behind men in the incidence of sudden death by 20 years. This gender differences in cardiac autonomic function may be a result of a combination of factors such as developmental differences, the effect of male and/or female sex hormones etc.

Objectives: To study the variation of change in posture on comparing the young healthy males with each of the 3 different phases of menstrual cycle in females.

Material and methods: The present study was carried out on 50 healthy female and 50 healthy male subjects between the ages of 18 to 25 years. Non-invasive Sympathetic function tests were performed like postural challenge test and resting blood pressure. The results were analysed using student-t-test.

Results: In the present study, significant differences (P<0.05) were observed in sympathetic function tests between males and most of the phases of Menstrual Cycle in females. The males had a significantly higher resting blood pressure with less fall in blood pressure on standing as compare to females.

Conclusion: We can conclude from our study that on comparison of sympathetic function tests amongst males and females shows that males have higher sympathetic activity as compared to all the 3 phases of menstrual cycle in females of the same age group; this lower sympathetic activity in females may be the reason behind their lower cardiovascular risk as compared to males.

Keywords: Postural challenge test, blood pressure, Gender difference