posted on 2020-07-10, 16:50authored byMarit de Jong, Mark Woodward, Sanne A.E Peters
Objective: Diabetes has shown
to be a stronger risk factor for myocardial infarction (MI) in women than men.
Whether sex differences exist across the glycaemic spectrum is unknown. We
investigated sex differences in the associations of diabetes status and
glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) with the risk of MI. Research Design and Methods: Data
were used from 471,399 (56% women) individuals without cardiovascular disease (CVD)
included in the UK Biobank. Sex-specific incidence rates were calculated by
diabetes status and across levels of HbA1c, using Poisson regression. Cox proportional
hazards analyses estimated sex-specific hazard ratios (HR) and women-to-men
ratios by diabetes status and HbA1c for MI during a mean follow-up of 9 years. Results: Women had lower incidence
rates of MI than men, regardless of diabetes status or HbA1c level. Compared
with individuals without diabetes, prediabetes, undiagnosed diabetes, and
previously diagnosed diabetes were associated with increased risk of MI in both
sexes. Previously diagnosed diabetes was more
strongly associated with MI in women (HR 2∙33 [95%CI 1∙96;2∙78]) than men (1∙81 [1∙63;2∙02]), with a women-to-men ratio of
HRs of 1∙29 (1∙05;1∙58). Each 1% higher HbA1c, independent of diabetes status,
was associated with an 18% greater risk of MI in both women and men. Conclusions: Although the incidence
of MI was higher in men than women, the presence of diabetes is associated with a
greater excess relative risk of MI in women. However, each 1% higher HbA1c was associated
with an 18% greater risk of MI in both women and men.
Funding
Netherlands Organization for Health Research and Development (ZonMw), Gender and Health Programme (80-84900-98-100). UK Medical Research Council Skills Development Fellowship (MR/P014550/1). National Health and Medical Research Council fellowship (APP108026) and Program Grant (APP1149987).