Women with diabetes ‘less likely’ to receive CVD prevention than men

It found women with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD), or at high risk of developing CVD, are less likely to reach recommended treatment targets than men.

“An unacceptable proportion of affected women are not reaching recommended treatment targets”

Giulia Ferrannini

The researchers behind the study highlighted a need for better understanding of gender disparities to treat women more effectively.

Findings from their study, involving almost 10,000 patients with type 2 diabetes, was presented today at the annual meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD).

The study authors noted that previous research had suggested that type 2 diabetes was associated with a higher risk of fatal coronary heart disease, stroke and death in women than men.

They investigated whether there were gender differences in risk factor management and outcomes in those with type 2 diabetes, who had either a previous cardiovascular event or risk factors.

They analysed data from 9,901 adults taking part in the REWIND trial taking place in 24 countries and involving adults with type 2 diabetes with a wide range of cardiovascular risk.

Significantly fewer women than men had a history of CVD – 20% versus 41%, said the researchers behind the study, which was funded by Eli Lilly.

They analysed use of cardioprotective therapies and the achievement of guideline-recommended treatment targets at the start of the study and after two years.

They also analysed the risk of individual cardiovascular outcomes including stroke, heart attack, cardiovascular death, death from any cause, and severe heart failure.

The majority of women and men met treatment targets for blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol at the start of the study.

But women were less likely to receive recommended medications, like ACE inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers – 80% versus 83% – and statins – 73% versus 81%.

“The reasons why women are not receiving the same standard of treatment as men are complex and require further investigation”

Giulia Ferrannini

Over two years follow-up, women remained less likely than men to achieve LDL cholesterol treatment goals, regardless of whether they had previously had a cardiovascular event.

Nevertheless, in the trial, women were less likely than men to experience adverse cardiovascular outcomes except stroke, possibly due to gender differences in the pathophysiology of disease.

Lead study author Dr Giulia Ferrannini, from the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, said: “Women with type 2 diabetes are at high cardiovascular risk and should not be neglected.

“An unacceptable proportion of affected women are not reaching recommended treatment targets,” said Dr Ferrannini.

“Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of women, but it has never been more preventable and treatable,” she said.

“The reasons why women are not receiving the same standard of treatment as men are complex and require further investigation so that women with type 2 diabetes can be treated more effectively.”