Sex differences in cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk estimation in patients with type 1 diabetes

Aims: Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk compared to the general population. This observational study aims to evaluate sex-related differences in CVD prevalence and CVD risk estimates in a large cohort of T1D adults. Materials and methods: We conducted a multicenter, cross-sectional study involving 2,041 T1D patients (mean age 46 years; 44.9% women). In patients without pre-existing CVD (primary prevention), we calculated the Steno type 1 risk engine to estimate the 10-year risk of developing CVD events. Results: CVD prevalence (n=116) was higher in men than in women aged ≥55 years (19.2 vs 12.8%, p=0.036), but comparable between the two sexes in those aged <55 years (p=0.91). In patients without pre-existing CVD (n=1,925), mean 10-year estimated CVD risk was 15.4±0.4% without any significant sex difference. However, stratifying this patient group by age, the 10-year estimated CVD risk was significantly higher in men than in women until age 55 years (p<0.001), but this risk equalized after this age. Carotid-artery plaque burden was significantly associated with age ≥55 years and with a medium and high 10-year estimated CVD risk, without any significant sex difference. Diabetic retinopathy and sensory-motor neuropathy were also associated with higher 10-year CVD risk and female sex. Conclusions: Both men and women with T1D are at high CVD risk. The 10-year estimated CVD risk was higher in men aged <55 years than in women of similar age, but these sex differences disappeared at age ≥55 years, suggesting that female sex was no longer protective.