Type 1 diabetes

Sex differences and sex steroids influence on the presentation and severity of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy of patients with type 1 diabetes

Cardiovasc DiabetolPublished Cross-sectional study

Authors' conclusion

Menopause in women with type 1 diabetes is accompanied by an increase in the prevalence of asymptomatic cardioautonomic neuropathy. This age-related excess risk of cardioautonomic neuropathy is not observed in men. Men and women with type 1 diabetes have opposite associations between circulating androgens and indexes of cardioautonomic function.

Study context

Population
Patients with T1D, consecutively recruited
Participants
322 patients
Exposure
Women vs men with T1D, by age and menopausal status
Outcome
Prevalence of seemingly asymptomatic cardioautonomic neuropathy (Ewing's score and power spectral heart rate data)
Methodological detailsconsecutively recruited
  • Consecutively recruited

Main finding

As reported in the abstract

Asymptomatic cardioautonomic neuropathy prevalence

Women >50 years vs young women

45.8% (32.6; 59.7) vs. 20.4% (13.7; 29.2)

OR of cardioautonomic neuropathy, women >50 years vs younger women

3.3

Observational data: associations, not effects.

Further findings

OutcomePeri- and menopausal womenReproductive-aged womenOR (CI)
Cardioautonomic neuropathy by menopausal status in women51% (CI 37–65)23% (CI 16–32)3.5 (1.7–7.2)

Binary logistic regression for cardioautonomic neuropathy

Model R2
0.161; P = 0.001
Age >50 years a significant determinant only in women

Sex steroids and cardioautonomic function

Androgens positively associated with heart rate variability in men, negatively in women
Cardioautonomic neuropathy associated with increased testosterone/estradiol ratio in women and decreased testosterone in men

Original publication

Sex differences and sex steroids influence on the presentation and severity of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy of patients with type 1 diabetes. Cardiovasc Diabetol. Published 15 February 2023. doi:10.1186/s12933-023-01766-y

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