Early-Onset Hypertension and Sex-Specific Residual Risk for Cardiovascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective. To investigate whether the sex disparities in type 2 diabetes associated cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks may be related to early-onset hypertension that could benefit from intensive blood pressure (BP) control.

Research Design and Methods. We analyzed intensive versus standard BP control in relation to incident CVD events in women and men with type 2 diabetes, based on their age of hypertension diagnosis.

Results. Among 3792 adults with type 2 diabetes (49% women), multivariable-adjusted CVD risk was increased per decade earlier age at hypertension diagnosis (HR 1.11 [1.03-1.21], P=0.006). Excess risk associated with early-diagnosed hypertension was attenuated in the presence of intensive versus standard antihypertensive therapy in women (P=0.036) but not men (P=0.76).

Conclusions. Women with type 2 diabetes and early-onset hypertension may represent a higher-risk subpopulation that not only contributes to the female excess in diabetes-related CVD risk but that may benefit from intensive BP control.