title: Gender differences in clinical outcomes among diabetic patients hospitalized for cardiovascular disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The risk of incident cardiovascular disease (CVD) has been shown to be greater among diabetic women than men, but gender differences in clinical outcomes among diabetic patients hospitalized with CVD are not established. We aimed to determine if hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) was associated with 30-day and 1-year CVD rehospitalization and total mortality among diabetic patients hospitalized for CVD, overall and by gender.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective analysis of diabetic patients hospitalized for CVD, enrolled in an National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute-sponsored observational clinical outcomes study (N = 902, 39% female, 53% racial/ethnic minority, mean age 67 ± 12 years). Laboratory, rehospitalization, and mortality data were determined by hospital-based electronic medical record. Poor glycemic control was defined as HbA1c ≥7%. The association between HbA1c and clinical outcomes was evaluated using logistic regression; gender modification was evaluated by interaction terms and stratified models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Hemoglobin A1c ≥7% prevalence was 63% (n = 566) and was similar by gender. Hemoglobin A1c ≥7% vs <7% was associated with increased 30-day CVD rehospitalization in univariate (odds ratio [OR] = 1.63, 95% CI 1.05-2.54) and multivariable-adjusted models (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.06-2.84). There was an interaction between glycemic control and gender for 30-day CVD rehospitalization risk (P = .005). In stratified univariate models, the association was significant among women (OR 4.83, 95% CI 1.84-12.71) but not among men (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.60-1.71). The multivariate-adjusted risk for HbA1c ≥7% versus <7% among women was 8.50 (95% CI 2.31-31.27) and 1.02 (95% CI 0.57-1.80) for men. A trend toward increased 30-day/1-year mortality risk was observed for HbA1c <6% vs ≥6% for men and women.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk of 30-day CVD rehospitalization was 8.5-fold higher among diabetic women hospitalized for CVD with HbA1c ≥7% vs <7%; no association was observed among men. A trend for increased 30-day/1-year mortality risk with HbA1c <6% deserves further study.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University Medical Center, New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY 10032, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Flink
authors.forename: Heidi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mochari-Greenberger
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mosca
mesh_terms: D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D010359:Patient Readmission / Q000639:trends; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin