Loss of the female advantage with cardiovascular disease for women with diabetes.
BACKGROUND
The relative risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) associated with diabetes is greater for women than men, and diabetic women did not experience temporal declines in CVD mortality observed for the general population and diabetic men.


OBJECTIVE
To examine sex differences in CVD risk factors for persons with diabetes over time.


METHODS
Population-based historical cohort study.


METHODS
The provider-linked medical records of all Rochester, MN, residents assigned a clinical diagnosis of diabetes were reviewed to confirm case status and assign diagnosis date. Data on fasting glucose, obesity, persistent proteinuria, smoking, hypertension, and dyslipidemia were obtained at diagnosis for confirmed incidence cases.


RESULTS
There were 1330 diabetes cases 1970- 1989. Compared to men, women at diagnosis were older and more likely hypertensive, had similar levels of fasting glucose and persistent proteinuria, and less likely to smoke. Among persons diagnosed at younger ages, women were more likely than men to be obese. Comparison with published data for the Rochester population revealed the excess obesity and hypertension associated with diabetes were highest for women < age 55 y. Temporal trends in CVD risk factors did not differ between diabetic men and women.
Leibson
C
C
Department of Health Sciences Research, Mayo Clinic Foundation, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors