Low risk of coronary heart disease in female type II diabetic subjects with diabetic relatives
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1Department of Internal Medicine, University of Lund, Malmö General Hospital, Sweden.
Insights
Cardiovascular disease risk in type II diabetes differs between genders. A family history of diabetes may protect women against coronary heart disease, suggesting genetic factors play a role.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Cardiology
- Genetics
Background:
- Type II diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD).
- Traditional CVD risk factors like hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and smoking were not strongly associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) in this diabetic cohort.
- The role of genetic predisposition in CVD development among diabetic patients warrants further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type II diabetes.
- To explore the association between family history of diabetes and the prevalence of coronary heart disease (CHD) in female diabetic patients.
- To determine if genetic factors influence the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in diabetes mellitus.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 52 type II diabetic subjects with and without a history of coronary heart disease (CHD).
- A second observational study with 150 type II diabetic subjects was conducted to validate initial findings.
- Statistical analysis was used to assess the relationship between family history of diabetes and CHD prevalence, particularly in women.
Main Results:
- No significant association was found between conventional risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, smoking, glucose imbalance) and CHD in type II diabetic subjects.
- Female diabetic patients with CHD were significantly less likely to have a family history of diabetes compared to those without CHD (p<0.02).
- This trend was confirmed in a larger cohort, indicating a lower prevalence of CHD among female diabetic patients with a family history of diabetes (p<0.03).
Conclusions:
- Diabetes mellitus increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, with a potentially greater impact on women.
- A family history of diabetes may be associated with a reduced risk of coronary heart disease in female diabetic patients.
- Genetic factors are likely important in the development of cardiovascular disease in the context of diabetes mellitus.
Abstract:
Possible risk factors for cardiovascular disease were studied in 52 type II diabetic subjects, 19 with and 33 without a history of coronary heart disease (CHD). None of the recognized risk factors, such as hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, smoking and blood glucose imbalance, could be related to CHD. However, all female patients with CHD were lacking a family history of diabetes, while seven of nine female diabetic subjects without a history of CHD had diabetes in the family (p less than 0.02). This was confirmed in a second study of 150 type II diabetic subjects; CHD was more common among female patients without compared to those with diabetes in the family; 9/38 and 1/28, respectively (p less than 0.03). Diabetes increases the risk of CHD, and it does so for women more than it does for men. The finding of a possible low CHD risk in female diabetic subjects with diabetes in the family supports the hypothesis of genetic factors being important for the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease in diabetes mellitus.