Abstract | BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Sex differences in cardiovascular prevention have been reported, yet the role of sex with regard to different modifiable risk factors such as low-density lipoprotein cholesterol ( LDL-C), systolic blood pressure (BP), and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) in primary care settings is unclear. Therefore, we studied sex differences in assessment and measured values of LDL-C, BP, and HbA1c in primary and secondary cardiovascular prevention delivered by general practitioners. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on electronic medical records of 59,092 primary care patients (51.9% women) aged 40-79 years in Switzerland. Multilevel regression was used to model associations of sex with assessment and measured values of LDL-C, BP, and HbA1c in 2018. RESULTS: In both primary and secondary prevention, women had lower LDL-C assessment rates (age-adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.71 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.67 to 0.75] and 0.70 [CI 0.51 to 0.95]), and higher measured LDL-C values than men (age-adjusted difference 0.30 mmol/L [CI 0.25 to 0.35] and 0.28 mmol/L [CI 0.07 to 0.48]). Compared with men, women in primary prevention displayed lower BP and HbA1c assessment frequencies (aOR 0.77 [CI 0.73 to 0.81] and 0.76 [CI 0.71 to 0.80]) and measured values (age-adjusted difference -2.49 mmHg [CI -2.99 to -1.79] and -0.19% [CI -0.24 to -0.14]), while there was no sex difference in secondary prevention. Age-dependent increases in measured values of LDL-C, BP, and HbA1c were greater in women than men. CONCLUSIONS: Control of LDL-C in women in primary care should be improved to reduce sex-based inequalities in prevention of cardiovascular disease.
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Authors | Yael Rachamin, Thomas Grischott, Thomas Rosemann, Matthias R Meyer |
Journal | Atherosclerosis
(Atherosclerosis)
Vol. 324
Pg. 141-147
(05 2021)
ISSN: 1879-1484 [Electronic] Ireland |
PMID | 33810858
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. |
Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Cardiovascular Diseases
(diagnosis, epidemiology, prevention & control)
- Cholesterol, LDL
(blood)
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Female
- Heart Disease Risk Factors
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Primary Health Care
- Risk Factors
- Sex Factors
- Switzerland
(epidemiology)
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