Younger women with type 2 diabetes face higher risk of heart disease

American Heart Association Meeting Report

2013-09-13

(Press-News.org) Type 2 diabetes independently increases the risk of heart disease in premenopausal women, according to a study presented at the American Heart AssociationHigh Blood Pressure Research Scientific Sessions 2013. Researchers studied 1,256 Argentine premenopausal and menopausal women with and without type 2 diabetes, ages 19 to 84, who underwent ultrasound imaging to measure plaque in their carotid arteries, the major artery running down the neck. Regardless of their age, family history, smoking history, having high blood pressure or menopausal status, plaque buildup was more common among the 293 women with type 2 diabetes compared with the 963 who didn't have diabetes. "To reduce the risk of heart attacks, we recommend screening women with type 2 diabetes at younger ages, even if they don't have other known risk for heart disease," said Nestor Garcia, M.D., Ph.D, investigator from Blossom DMO, Cordoba, Argentina and CONICET, an Argentine government agency in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women in the United States, and is caused by the gradual buildup of plaque in the arteries. The prevalence of type 2 diabetes is increasing in the United States, and is a major risk factor for heart disease — the leading cause of death in America. ### Co-authors and author disclosures are listed on the manuscript. Funding for this study was provided by Blossom DMO and CONICET.

For high blood pressure tools and information visit heart.org/hbp. For the latest heart and stroke news, follow us on Twitter @HeartNews. Statements and conclusions of study authors that are presented at American Heart Association scientific meetings are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect association policy or position. The association makes no representation or warranty as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations are available at http://www.heart.org/corporatefunding.

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Younger women with type 2 diabetes face higher risk of heart disease

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