Impact of Sex and Gender Differences on Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Cardiovascular Complications in Diabetic Patients in Benha City, Egypt: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background: There is growing evidence that gender and sex differences matter when it comes to many diseases' epidemiology, etiology, treatment, and results; however, non-communicable diseases seem to be more affected by these differences. Aims : to investigate the effects of gender and sex variations on cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and various diabetes CVD sequelae. Methods: A total of 1000 type 2 diabetic patients (T2DM), ages 35 to 75, were included in this cross-sectional study: 500 males and 500 females. Results: Diabetes duration (13.34 ± 4.64 vs. 11.99 ± 5.04 ys), HbA 1C (7.5 ± 0.55 vs. 7.28 ± 0.48 %) were considerably higher in females than males (p < 0.001). Waist circumference, smoking, and uric acid were significantly lower in females. BMI, total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein (HDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and family history of premature CVD were significantly higher in females. Heart failure, stroke, retinopathy, ischemic heart disease, and peripheral arterial disease were insignificantly different between both groups. While dysrhythmia, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and peripheral neuropathy (PN) were significantly lower in females than males. Conclusions: Among Egyptian diabetic patients, Diabetes duration, family history of premature CVD, BMI, HbA 1C, TC, LDL-C, HDL-C, and TG were considerably higher in females than males. However, Waist circumference, smoking, and uric acid were significantly lower in females. Males with T2DM may be more susceptible to PN and nephropathy, whereas females with the same disease may have a lower risk of arrhythmias than men with the same disease.