Table 4.

Sex differences in the association between diabetes and myocardial infarction

Diabetes is an important risk factor for a range of CVDs, regardless of sex. However, studies have consistently shown that the magnitude of that association in stronger in women [33]. Specifically, analyses in the UK Biobank showed that the adjusted hazard ratio for myocardial infarction associated with type 2 diabetes was 1.96 (1.60; 1.83) in women and 1.33 (1.18; 1.51) in men [34]. The corresponding women-to-men ratio of hazard ratios, as a measure of sex differences, was 1.47 (1.16; 1.87). In other words, the myocardial infarction conferred by diabetes is 47% greater in women than men. However, in absolute terms, the rates of myocardial infarction at a given age are lower in women than men, also in the presence of diabetes. Women lose some of their advantage, in terms of the risk of myocardial infarction, but do not surpass men