Objective:

To evaluate the sex-specific association between relative fat mass (RFM) and cognitive impairment (CI) in hospitalized patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) at a single center.

Key Findings:

• Higher RFM is associated with increased risk of cognitive impairment, particularly in women, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
• The relationship between RFM and cognitive decline appears to be more pronounced and potentially nonlinear in women compared to men.
• Sex-specific differences in cognitive outcomes related to adiposity were observed, indicating the importance of tailored approaches.

Interpretation:

The findings suggest that RFM may serve as a more accurate anthropometric measure for identifying individuals with T2DM at risk for cognitive decline, with significant implications for developing sex-specific health strategies.

Limitations:

• Single-center study may limit generalizability.
• Cross-sectional design does not establish causality.
• Potential biases in self-reported lifestyle factors.
• Uncontrolled confounding factors may influence results.

Conclusion:

This study highlights the importance of considering sex differences in the relationship between adiposity and cognitive impairment in patients with T2DM, advocating for tailored approaches in clinical assessments and interventions.