Effect of gender on prognosis in patients with myocardial infarction and type 2 diabetes.
BACKGROUND
Diabetes is associated with a markedly increased cardiovascular risk, but the role of gender on the combined effects of diabetes and myocardial infarction has been less well explored.


METHODS
The Diabetes Mellitus and Insulin Glucose Infusion in Acute Myocardial Infarction 2 (DIGAMI2) trial recruited 837 men and 416 women with type 2 diabetes hospitalized due to myocardial infarction and followed for a median of 2.1 years. The effects of gender on diabetes-specific risk factors and conventional cardiovascular risk predictors of unfavourable outcome were analysed using a Cox proportional hazards model.


RESULTS
Women were older, more frequently had hypertension and previous heart failure than men, and were more often treated with diuretics. More men were smokers. Treatment during hospitalization, at discharge and during follow-up, did not differ significantly, apart from the more frequent use of diuretics in women. Total mortality did not differ between genders, but the combined cardiovascular end-point of death, re-infarction or stroke was more common in women (38.9% vs. 32.1%). This difference disappeared after age adjustment. Age and previous heart failure were independent risk predictors in both genders, whereas diabetes complications were an additional risk factor in women only. Blood glucose level at randomization and updated glucose concentration during follow-up were independent predictors of poor outcome in men but not in women.


CONCLUSIONS
Age and not gender itself explained the increased cardiovascular event rate seen in women compared with men. A heavier risk factor burden was seen amongst women. Improved risk factor control instituted before the development of a myocardial infarction should be attempted as a possible means of improving the outcome.
Venskutonyte
L
L
Unit for Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden. laura.venskutonyte@ki.se
Malmberg
K
K
Norhammar
A
A
Wedel
H
H
Rydén
L
L
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011379:Prognosis; D012737:Sex Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin