Objective:

To investigate sex-specific differences in ferritin or total body iron (TBI) and their associations with cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in a middle-aged population.

Key Findings:

• Men had higher iron stores than both premenopausal and postmenopausal women.
• Men exhibited a more adverse cardiovascular risk profile with higher BMI, prevalence of hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and prior myocardial infarction.
• Hyperferritinemia prevalence was 21.6% in men versus 12.0% in women (p < 0.01).
• Metabolic syndrome prevalence was 34.5% in men versus 24.6% in women (p < 0.01).
• BMI, alcohol consumption, LDL cholesterol, and triglycerides were associated with ferritin levels in both sexes.
• In women, age or hypertension was significantly associated with ferritin levels.

Interpretation:

The study highlights significant sex-specific differences in body iron stores and cardiovascular disease risk factors, suggesting that iron markers, along with age and hypertension in women, should be considered in cardiovascular risk assessments.

Limitations:

• The study is limited to a specific age group (50-64 years) and may not be generalizable to other populations.
• The cross-sectional design limits causal inferences regarding the relationships between iron levels and cardiovascular risk factors.

Conclusion:

Understanding the relationship between body iron markers and cardiovascular risk can aid in developing personalized diagnostic and management strategies for cardiovascular health.