Differences by gender in metabolic dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes in first-level care.

BACKGROUND

The genotypic and phenotypic characteristics of men and women determine metabolic differences, given by hormonal mechanisms and sexual dimorphism in adipose tissue, impacting the health-disease process.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the gender differences in metabolic alterations in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) treated in first-level medical units.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Analytical transversal study. After signing informed consent, adult patients with T2DM were included. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, biochemical and clinical data were collected. Metabolic dysfunction was evaluated using metabolic syndrome criteria. They were analyzed using Student t, Pearson x2 and Mann-Whitney U test to identify differences by gender.

RESULTS

5154 patients with DT2 were included. In women, a higher body mass index was observed (29.91 vs. 28.74 kg/m2; p < 0.001), and a higher proportion of obesity (44.2% vs. 38.7%; p < 0.001), hypercholesterolemia (94.0% vs. 90.5%; p < 0.001) and hypoalphalipoproteinemia (75.6% vs. 24.4%; p < 0.001), while microalbuminuria (36.4% vs 18.8%; p < 0.001) and hypertension (70.3% vs. 66.7%; p < 0.001) were higher in men.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of metabolic dysfunction is different between women and men. Obesity, hypercholesterolemia and hypoalphalipoproteinemia were more frequent among women, while among men they were hypertension and the presence of microalbuminuria.