GISINGER Teresa

Previous University and Subject: Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg

Thesis since: October 2019

The Influence of Sex and Gender Domains on Noncommunicable Diseases

Background: Beyond biological sex, gender is increasingly recognized as a pivotal determinant of health. However, there are no standardized gender measurements. We hypothesize that gender-related factors and their effect will vary substantially between countries and diseases.

Aims: Our research group is part of an international Consortium. The overarching aims of this large Consortium are to integrate sex and gender dimensions in applied health research, to evaluate their impact on clinical cost-sensitive outcomes and patients reported outcomes related to quality of life in noncommunicable diseases including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disease, chronic kidney disease and neurological disease. We also aim to construct innovative ways to disseminate the application of gender measurement towards personalized approaches to chronic disease prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Methods: With a five-country transatlantic network comprised of 30 investigators, we will benchmark innovative solutions to measure gender in retrospective cohorts. Based on consensus, we will develop a framework to identify gender-related factors, as well as cost-sensitive and patients reported outcomes and measure their associations in 32 accessible cohorts of patients affected by cardiovascular, chronic kidney and neurological diseases and metabolic syndrome. Large database analysis and when appropriate machine learning approaches will allow the derivation of pan and within country disease specific gender scores which will be validated through e-Health and m-Health applications in prospective disease groups.

Methods and Skills:

Data harmonistation; pricipal component analysis; federate analysis

Publications:

Tadiri CP*, Gisinger T*, Kautzy-Willer A, Kublickiene K, Herrero MT, Raparelli V, Pilote L, Norris CM; for the GOING-FWD Consortium: The influence of sex and gender domains on COVID-19 cases and mortality. Canadian Medical Association Journal, in pres; *equal contributions