Sex differentials in predictors of mortality for patients with adult-onsetdiabetes - A population-based follow-up study in Beer-Sheva, Israel

OBJECTIVE - To test the hypothesis that factors predicting mortality differ between diabetic men and women. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS - A total of 498 known patients with diabetes r esiding in a well-defined geographical area and receiving primary health ca re in 3 primary care community clinics were interviewed and examined betwee n 1988 and 1990. RESULTS - By 31 July 1998, after a mean follow-up period of 7.8 years, 148 patients (68 men and 80 women) had died (29.7%). No statistical differences in survival rate or in the specific causes of death were found between men and women. In the univariate analysis of factors examined at baseline, GHb levels were significantly higher among women who died compared with women who survived, but this was not the case for men. Conversely, a trend of hig her triglyceride and uric acid levels was found for men who died compared w ith men who survived, but this was not the case for women. Multivariate Poi sson regression analysis showed significantly higher risk ratios for mortal ity in men greater than or equal to 63 years of age, men with microalbumin excretion greater than or equal to 30 mg/l, and men with higher triglycerid e levels. In contrast, the analysis in women showed that higher GHb and cre atinine levels and a reported history of heart disease were the only factor s at the baseline examination significantly and independently associated wi th an increased risk ratio of mortality. CONCLUSIONS - The results suggest the existence of sex-specific interaction s with various metabolic factors associated with diabetes that may have a d ifferent effect on mortality for each sex.