Abnormal glucose regulation in Chinese patients with coronary artery disease: a gender analysis

BACKGROUND: Diabetes and impaired glucose regulation are very common in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). In this study, we aim to investigate the prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation in men and women in Chinese CAD patients. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 4100 patients (male, n = 2873; female, n = 1227)with CAD were enrolled. The mean age of these patients was 63 years. The demographic data, medical history, echocardiography findings and blood investigations were collected and analyzed. RESULTS: In this population, 953 (24%) patients had definite diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus, including 636 males (23%) and 317 females (27%). There was a higher prevalence of diabetes in females than men (p < 0.05). For the remaining patients, 48% (n = 959) undergone an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), which revealed that 83 male patients (12%) and 41 female patients (16%) suffered from the type 2 diabetes (p > 0.05). 283 men (40%) and 105 women (41%) had impaired glucose regulation (IGR) (p > 0.05). Only 338 men (25%) and 109 women (19%) showed the normal glucose regulation, implying a higher prevalence of abnormal glucose regulation in females (p < 0.01). The odd ratio (OR) showed that women were more prone to have diabetes mellitus or IGT than men and the OR was 1.44 and 1.43 respectively. CONCLUSION: Abnormal glucose regulation is highly prevalent in CAD patients. The women are more prone to have diabetes mellitus or IGT than men.