Women With Type 2 Diabetes More Likely to Develop Mental Health Conditions: Study

People with type 2 diabetes may face different health complications depending on their sex, with women more likely to develop mental health conditions while men face greater risks of cardiovascular and kidney problems, according to a study published in PLOS Medicine.

Researchers from Queen Mary University of London analysed anonymised health records of 28,720 people in the UK who developed type 2 diabetes between 2010 and 2020. Men accounted for 62% of the participants and had a median age of 54 at diagnosis, while women were generally older when diagnosed.

During the years following diagnosis, 39% of participants experienced at least one major health event. However, researchers found clear differences in the types and timing of complications between men and women.

Women were more likely to develop mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety. Mental health complications occurred in 8.1% of women compared with 5.3% of men. Women were also more likely to follow disease trajectories that ultimately resulted in death.

Men, meanwhile, had higher proportions of cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease and hypertension. Cardiovascular disease affected 8.4% of men compared with 5.3% of women. Hypertension was reported in 21.1% of men and 20.2% of women.

The researchers also found that women used more healthcare services and long-term prescriptions than men, which may partly explain differences in recorded diagnoses.

Despite the differences, hypertension remained the most frequent health event across both sexes and all age groups. People who developed both type 2 diabetes and a mental health condition also faced a higher risk of premature death.

The researchers said the findings highlight the need for more personalised diabetes care based on sex and age. Younger women may benefit from routine psychological screening, while men could require earlier monitoring for cardiovascular and kidney complications.

The study suggests that recognising these differences could help doctors identify complications earlier and improve long-term outcomes for people living with type 2 diabetes.

REFERENCE: Fabiola Eto, et al.; Sex differences in trajectories to cardio-renal and mental health outcomes following the onset of type 2 diabetes: An observational cohort study using multi-state analysis in the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink; PLOS Medicine; DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1005196