A meta-analysis published in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology has revealed that women with type 1 diabetes have a greater excess risk of all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality than with men with the condition. When data from 26 studies and 214 114 individuals were pooled, the women-to-men ratio of the standardised mortality ratio was 1.37 for all-cause death, 1.37 for incident stroke, 2.54 for incident coronary heart disease, 1.86 for fatal CV disease and 1.44 for fatal renal disease
In an accompanying commentary, David Simmons (University of Western Sydney, Australia, and Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge) stated that the mechanisms behind this excess risk in women were unclear but could include increased effects or higher degrees of hyperglycaemia, differences in vascular calcification and endothelial dysfunction, lipid changes and greater central adiposity. Worse glycaemic control could also be implicated, as women have been found to be less likely than men to achieve HbA1c targets, at least early in the disease course; however, it is unknown whether these differences are behavioural, physiological or a result of different treatment strategies.
Simon O’Neill, Director of Health Intelligence at Diabetes UK, said: “This is why we need the NHS to urgently improve diabetes care so that all people are offered care that is tailored to their individual needs, and so are able to manage their condition effectively, and reduce their risk of devastating complications and early death. With the right care and support in place there is no reason why people with Type 1 diabetes – both men and women – can’t live long, healthy lives.”
Click here to read the original article in The Lancet Diabetes & Endocrinology.
Click here to read David Simmons’ commentary.
