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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.