Age and gender differences in the impact of diabetes on the prevalence of ischemic heart disease: a population-based register study.
OBJECTIVE
To explore age and gender differences in the impact of diabetes on the prevalence of ischemic heart disease (IHD) in a defined population.


METHODS
Data were obtained from an administrative health care register covering a population of about 415,000. The study included all patients aged 45-74 years diagnosed between 1999 and 2003 with IHD (n=11,311) and diabetes (n=10,364) by physicians at all primary health care centres (PHCs) and out- and inpatient clinics at all hospitals in the county of Ostergötland, Sweden.


RESULTS
In the 45-54-year-old age group, diabetes was associated with an increase in IHD prevalence equivalent to ageing about 20 years in women and 10 years in men. The diabetes/nondiabetes IHD prevalence rate ratio (IPR) decreased with age in both men and women (trend p-values <0.001). The IPR was higher among women than men in each age group, though the female relative excess decreased from 75% higher in the 45-54-year-old age group to 33% higher in the 65-74-year-old age group (trend p-value=0.018).


CONCLUSIONS
The relative gender difference in the impact of diabetes on IHD in younger middle-aged patients remained up to the age of 65 years, decreasing considerably thereafter.
Wiréhn
Ann-Britt E
AB
Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden. annwi@ihs.liu.se
Ostgren
Carl Johan
CJ
Carstensen
John M
JM
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology