Sex-influenced association of metabolic syndrome with lower extremity arterial disease in type 2 diabetes

Abstract

AimThe present study is undertaken to investigate the relationship between metabolic syndrome (MS) and lower extremity arterial disease (LEAD) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. MethodsA multi-center cross-sectional study was conducted on 8374 T2DM patients (4521 males and 3853 females) from 30 hospitals across China from June 2016 to January 2017. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were presented to show the association between MS and LEAD. The univariate and multiple logistic analyses were performed to examine the association between MS and the prevalence of LEAD. Furthermore, the relationship was analyzed in different sex groups. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the number and individual of MS components. ResultsFinally, 1809(21.60%) T2DM patients meet the diagnostic criteria of LEAD. Of the 3853 female subjects, 841(21.83%) patients were in the LEAD group and of the 4521 male subjects, 968(21.41%) patients were in the LEAD group. When adjusting for confounding variables, MS was significantly associated with the prevalence of LEAD in all enrolled T2DM patients (OR = 1.22, 95%CI: 1.09–1.37, P = 0.001). However, upon analyzing LEAD in different sex groups, the significant association remained in females (OR = 1.33, 95%CI: 1.12–1.58, P < 0.001), but not in males (OR = 1.11, 95%CI: 0.95–1.29, P = 0.202). ConclusionsOur results suggest that MS is specifically associated with an increased risk of LEAD in female T2DM patients. However, MS may not be a significant factor in the prevalence of LEAD in male T2DM patients.