Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) including coronary artery disease (CAD) and ischemic heart disease (IHD) are the main cause of mortality in industrialized countries. Although it is well known that there is a difference in the risk of these diseases in women and men, current therapy does not consider the sexual dimorphism; i.e., differences in anatomical structures and metabolism of tissues. Here, we discuss how genetic, epigenetic, hormonal, cellular or molecular factors may explain the different CVD risk, especially in high-risk groups such as women with diabetes. We analyze whether sex may modify the effects of diabetes at risk of CAD. Finally, we discuss current diagnostic techniques in the evaluation of CAD and IHD in diabetic women.

Solid evidence underlines the pivotal role played by inflammation regarding atherosclerosis. Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is one of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), it is highly frequently diagnosed in older individuals. In the present study we carried out an investigation on the association between platelet‑to‑lymphocytes ratio (PLR), neutrophil‑to‑lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte‑to‑HDL cholesterol ratio (MHR) with PAD as favourable markers. We identified 300 subjects aged over 70 years, without any concomitant CVDs. The PLR, NLR and MHR were assessed from peripheral venous blood routinely drawn in the ward during hospitalization. Patients were divided in groups according to ankle brachial index (ABI) value (>0.9; 0.9‑0.99; 1‑1.4; >1.4). Higher PLR (P=0.007), NLR (P=0.0001) and MHR (P=0.0001) were associated with 1.4 ABI showed NLR values higher compared to >0.9l ABI (P<0.01). Univariate linear regression analysis demonstrated the direct correlation between increase in PLR (P=0.0023)and MHR (P<0.0001) with the decrease in ABI value. In multivariate linear regression analysis including main cardiovascular risk factors we found that PLR, NLR and MHR were independently associated with lower ABI (P=0.0011). Results show and suggest that the elevated PLR, NLR and MHR are related to PAD evaluated with ABI measurement. PLR and MHR seem to be more reliable markers than NLR in PAD. NLR seems to be more related to incompressibility of arterial wall. It is hypothesized that these three indexes may play a role as simple and repetitive markers of PAD.