Shaoqing Gong and Kesheng Wang Publish Article in Diabetes Journal

ETSU College of Public Health doctoral student Shaoqing Gong and Dr. Kesheng Wang, Associate Professor in the Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, are co-authors of an article in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.  The article, “Sleep duration and smoking are associated with coronary heart disease among US adults with type 2 diabetes: Gender differences,” studies adults with type two diabetes selected from the 2012 National Health Interview Survey.

Worldwide, the incidence of type 2 diabetes is rising rapidly. Among adults, in the Unites States, the prevalence of diabetes is estimated to be 9.3% (29.1 million). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts that by 2030, diabetes will be the seventh leading cause of death worldwide. Based on current trends studied by the International Diabetes Federation, 592 million people worldwide will have diabetes by 2035.

Risk factors for coronary heart disease in patients with diabetes are well established. Older age, male gender, overweight, and non-leisure time physical inactivity, are significantly associated with coronary heart disease mortality in diabetic patients. However, the gender differences in these risk factors for coronary heart disease are still unclear.  The study evaluated the association of lifestyle factors, hypertension, obesity, depression and sleep duration with the risk for developing coronary heart disease among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, with a specific focus on gender differences in risk factors for coronary heart disease.

The study found the overall prevalence of coronary heart disease among patients with type 2 diabetes was 14.2% (18.1% and 10.4% for males and females, respectively).  Weighted multiple logistic regression analyses showed that being male, older age, hypertension, past smoking, long sleep duration and high cholesterol levels were significantly associated with coronary heart disease development. 

Stratified analysis by gender found that the significant association of older age, past smoking, hypertension and high cholesterol level were observed particularly in males, while the association of long sleep duration with coronary heart disease was only observed in females. However, hypertension was associated with coronary heart disease for both genders.

Dr. Wang states, “The associations of age, past smoking, sleep duration and high cholesterol level with coronary heart disease differed by gender. Such gender disparities should be considered in the prevention and intervention of coronary heart disease risk factors among diabetic patients.”

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice is an international journal for health-care providers and clinically oriented researchers that publishes high-quality original research articles and expert reviews in diabetes and related areas.