Sex differences in 10-year ischemic cardiovascular disease risk prediction in Chinese patients with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes

BackgroundCardiovascular disease has become a serious public health problem in recent years in China. The aim of the study was to examine sex differences in cardiovascular risk factors and 10-year ischemic cardiovascular disease (ICVD) risk in Chinese patients with prediabetes (PreDM) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsThis was a multi-site retrospective case-control study conducted from April-November 2016 using an electronic medical record database, involving 217 PreDM and 900 T2DM patients admitted to endocrinology units in four hospitals in China. CVD risk was estimated using the Chinese 10-year ICVD risk model. The differences in 10-year absolute ICVD risk according to PreDM, T2DM <1year, T2DM 1-5years or T2DM <greater than or equal to>5years and sex were analyzed using ANOVA.ResultsWhen compared to PreDM females, males with PreDM had significantly higher 10-year ICVD risk In contrast, the opposite pattern of 10-year ICVD risk was observed in T2DM; males had significantly lower 10-year ICVD risk. Moreover, compared to T2DM females, males with T2DM had a lower proportion s with moderate or greater ICVD risk (p<0.001). When compared to PreDM males, males with T2DM <1year, and with T2DM 1-5years had no difference in 10-year ICVD risk, but had higher ICVD risk with T2DM >= 5years (p<0.05). Compared to PreDM females, females with T2DM in all subgroups had higher ICVD risk (p<0.05). Among those with T2DM, hypertension rates of awareness, treatment and control were 78.60%, 65.38% and 31.10%, respectively; hyperlipidemia rates of awareness, treatment and control were lower (29.15%, 8.30% and 3.47%, respectively). Females with T2DM had higher prevalence, awareness and treatment of hypertension and hyperlipidemia than males with T2DM (p<0.001).ConclusionsThere is a greater need for cardiovascular risk reduction programs for females with T2DM at diagnosis. Given the low numbers for awareness, treatment and control of hypertension and hyperlipidemia in both males and females, significant resources focused on them must be expended, specifically improving regular assessment of blood pressure and blood lipids. Strengthening the management of chronic diseases through adherence to evidence-based guidelines to enhance clinical treatment may reduce 10-year ICVD in patients with T2DM in China.