Sex-Specific-Differences in Cardiometabolic Risk in T1DM
In summary, our results support the hypothesis that the female sex may lose its general cardiovascular advantage in diabetic subjects as women had comparable rates of micro- and macrovascular complications with even more cardiovascular events. Obesity and dyslipidaemia may exert sex-dimorphic effects on the development of long-term complications, whereas hypertension and a long duration of disease are related to complications in both sexes. Women were less likely to be treated with statins and aspirin and had a worse metabolic situation with higher total cholesterol levels than males with T1DM. Adherence to pharmacological intervention according to the guidelines was lower in women than in men. Therefore, differences in the treatment may contribute to this gender-difference in cardiometabolic risk. A continuing need for improvements in the treatment and care is essential in all patients with T1DM but is particularly striking for female type 1 diabetics.
Conclusions
In summary, our results support the hypothesis that the female sex may lose its general cardiovascular advantage in diabetic subjects as women had comparable rates of micro- and macrovascular complications with even more cardiovascular events. Obesity and dyslipidaemia may exert sex-dimorphic effects on the development of long-term complications, whereas hypertension and a long duration of disease are related to complications in both sexes. Women were less likely to be treated with statins and aspirin and had a worse metabolic situation with higher total cholesterol levels than males with T1DM. Adherence to pharmacological intervention according to the guidelines was lower in women than in men. Therefore, differences in the treatment may contribute to this gender-difference in cardiometabolic risk. A continuing need for improvements in the treatment and care is essential in all patients with T1DM but is particularly striking for female type 1 diabetics.