Health
Diabetes deaths for women unchanged
NEWS IN BRIEF — Posted July 9, 2007
Although the death rate for men with diabetes dropped significantly over the 29 years between 1971 and 2000, the death rate for women with diabetes did not decline at all, according to a analysis of three large national databases by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention researchers.
In general, people with diabetes have a higher risk of dying earlier than do people without the disease. In this study, the death rate of men with diabetes remained higher than that of men without it. But over the decades rates for both groups decreased in a parallel fashion.
Although the study did not investigate the reasons for the sex-related differences, the researchers said other studies suggest that women receive less aggressive care for heart disease and risk factors, that heart disease and diabetes may take a subtly different form in women and that different types of treatments are needed.
Note: This item originally appeared at http://www.ama-assn.org/amednews/2007/07/09/hlbf0709.htm.
