Sex differences in determinants of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction

Women are predisposed to stiffening of their heart muscle as they age, which can lead to shortness of breath and fatigue. The reasons behind this are explored in this thesis. I discovered that women have greater vascular stiffening around the body and in the lungs, and greater rises in heart pressures with exercise. These differences partially relate to sex differences in heart size and function but may also be linked to repeated adaption to pregnancy, iron deficiency, and inflammation related to changes in the microbes in their gut. These findings may help the development of treatment for this condition in the future.