Non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, diabetes, and cancer, are the leading causes of death in the UK, and worldwide, in both men and women. Historically, most health research in NCDs was conducted in predominantly male populations. The findings of these studies were considered to be equally applicable to women. However, with the greater inclusion of women in medical research, clinically meaningful sex differences and gender disparities in the occurrence, management and outcomes of NCDs have emerged. For heart disease, in particular, there is strong evidence to suggest that women and men experience the condition differently. With this research, we aim to determine whether there is a broader sex difference in the relationship between major risk factors and the onset of the most common types of NDCs. We will also examine whether there are any differences between men and women in the care provided for prevention, and for avoiding recurrence of, these diseases. Taken together, this research will help to better understand the different ways these diseases operate between the sexes, and will facilitate policy makers and health care professionals in optimising health service delivery for women and men.
There is increasing recognition of clinically meaningful differences between men and women in the occurrence, management and outcomes of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). However, the evidence is inconsistent and incomplete, particularly for major non-cardiovascular conditions such as chronic kidney disease, dementia, diabetes, cancer, and respiratory disease. With this proposal, we will complement and expand our current programme of research on sex differences in cardiovascular diseases to other major NCDs. Our objectives are to 1) quantify the sex-specific associations between the major risk factors and common NDC outcomes: cardiovascular disease, chronic kidney disease, dementia, diabetes, cancer, respiratory diseases and 2) to determine whether there are differences between men and women in guideline-recommended care provided for the primary and secondary prevention of these NCDs. The risk factors that will be used as exposures in objective 1 include blood pressure, smoking status, diabetes, body mass index, lipids, HbA1C, eGFR, albumin, and creatinine. We will assess differences across demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical subpopulations. This research will expand our understanding of sex differences in risk factors for NCDs and will assess whether inconsistencies in health service delivery contribute to the sex differences in the occurrence of NCDs.
Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- All-cause mortality
- End-stage renal disease
- Heart disease
- Dementia
- Stroke
Sanne Peters - Chief Investigator - University of Oxford
Sanne Peters - Corresponding Applicant - University of Oxford
Elizabeth Millett - Collaborator - London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM )
Kazem Rahimi - Collaborator - The George Institute for Global Health
Mark Woodward - Collaborator - The George Institute for Global Health
Mei-Man Lee - Collaborator - University of Oxford
Misghina Tekeste Weldegiorgis - Collaborator - University of Oxford
Richard Hobbs - Collaborator - University of Oxford
HES Admitted Patient Care;ONS Death Registration Data;ONS Death Registration Data;Practice Level Index of Multiple Deprivation