Objectives: In congestive heart failure (CHF), men are younger, more likely to have reduced ejection fraction (HF-rEF), and to be diabetic compared to women. Despite this, sex differences in oxidative stress have yet to be explored in CHF.
Methods: Data from 67 males and 63 females hospitalized for CHF were collected. Static oxidation-reduction potential (sORP), a relative indicator of oxidative stress, and capacity ORP (icORP), a relative indicator of antioxidant capacity, were measured from plasma samples. We examined whether sex modified the relationship between ORP and hospital discharge disposition (poor outcome: death, hospice), along with other demographics, medications, and diagnostic parameters.
Results: Males with poor outcomes had higher sORP and icORP values than females (P < 0.05). For those with a good outcome, there were no differences between the sexes (P > 0.05). Males were younger and more likely to have HF-rEF and diabetes. Controlling for these variables did not account for the sex differences in ORP measures. Regardless of sex, higher creatinine was related to higher sORP and icORP, while lower magnesium and potassium were related to higher sORP and icORP, respectively.
Discussion: Increases in sORP during CHF are partially affected by sex and acute outcomes, but are also related to variables without sexual biases.
Keywords: Congestive heart failure; oxidation–reduction potential; oxidative stress; preserved ejection fraction; reduced ejection fraction; sex differences.