Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Risk Factors among people with Diabetes in South India
Satyavani, K.; Archana, S.; Kumar, A.M.; Achanta, S.; Viswanathan, V.
Journal of the Association of Physicians of India 63(12): 20-24
2015
ISSN/ISBN: 0004-5772 PMID: 27666899 Document Number: 679254
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. 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). 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. 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.