Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Risk Factors among People with Diabetes in South India.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the sex differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among patients with type 2 diabetes, visiting the hospital between March-December 2012.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study was performed among the type 2 diabetes patients attending M.V. Hospital for Diabetes, a tertiary centre specialized in diabetes care, Chennai, South India. We collected information on obesity (body mass index ≥25 kg/m2), hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, alcohol consumption and glycemic control (HbA1c >8% considered poor control).


RESULTS
Risk factors (prevalence) among 6113 (58% males; mean age 54 years) patients were obesity (68.4%), poor glycemic control (51.4%), hypertension (37.9%), dyslipidemia (34.7%), smoking (9.6%) and consumption of alcohol (10.3%), respectively. Women had a higher prevalence of obesity (75.7 vs 63.2%) and poor glycemic control while men had a higher prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption. There were no sex differences in prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidemia. Cardiovascular risk factors were not associated with duration of diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
Cardiovascular risk factors were highly prevalent among patients with type 2 diabetes attending a tertiary care centre in South India, with different risk profiles among men and women. We recommend a gender-sensitive approach in planning interventions (counseling and treatment) to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
M.V. Hospital for Diabetes and Prof. M. Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre [WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Education and Training in Diabetes], Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Kumpatla
K
Satyavani
M.V. Hospital for Diabetes and Prof. M. Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre [WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Education and Training in Diabetes], Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Sekar
S
Archana
International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union), South-East Asia Regional Office, New Delhi.
Ajay Mv
AM
Kumar
Office of the WHO-Representative in India, Central TB Division, World Health Organization, New Delhi.
Shanta
S
Achanta
M.V. Hospital for Diabetes and Prof. M. Viswanathan Diabetes Research Centre [WHO Collaborating Centre for Research, Education and Training in Diabetes], Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
Vijay
V
Viswanathan
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism; D050171:Dyslipidemias / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human