Diabetes confers a greater excess risk of heart failure in women than men, according to new research in Diabetologia (the journal of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes). Type 1 diabetes is associated with a 47% excess risk of heart failure in women compared to men, whilst type 2 diabetes has a 9% excess risk of heart failure for women than men.

Type 1 diabetes was associated with a 5.15 times higher risk of heart failure in women, and a 3.47 times higher risk in men - meaning a 47% excess relative risk of heart failure for women compared to men. Type 2 diabetes was associated with a 1.95 times higher risk of heart failure in women, and a 1.74 times higher risk in men - meaning a 9% excess relative risk of heart failure for women compared to men.

The excess risk of heart failure following a diagnosis of diabetes is high in both sexes, but significantly greater in women than men, conclude the authors, "highlighting the importance of intensive prevention and treatment of diabetes for women as well as men."