Aims: The main aim of the present work was to assess if sex influences the occurrence of major clinical events in elderly people with type 2 diabetes followed up in the primary care., Methods: 983 subjects aged ≥65years with type 2 diabetes were included by 213 general practitioners and followed up prospectively for three years. Major clinical events were recorded every six month. The first endpoint was a composite of all-cause death and major vascular events (acute coronary syndrome, non-fatal stroke or transient ischemic attack, or revascularization for peripheral artery disease). The second endpoint was all-cause hospitalization. The occurrence of each endpoint was analyzed in order to estimate the role of sex and determine other predictors of major clinical events., Results: At baseline, women were older than men but they had a lower prevalence of coexisting diseases (cardiovascular disease and cancer) and equivalent diabetes control (Glycated hemoglobin A1C: 6.9%±0.9 vs. 7.0%±1.1). Over the follow-up period, women were at lower risk to develop the composite endpoint (HR 0.60, 95% CI 0.40-0.91, p=0.016) and the hospitalization endpoint (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.52-0.96, p=0.029). Coexisting diseases, functional ability and concomitant medications emerged as significant predictors of both endpoints., Conclusions: Elderly women with well-controlled type 2 diabetes were less likely to experience major clinical events than their male counterparts. More studies are needed to determine the reasons for the higher hospitalization rate in men., Competing Interests: Al-Salameh A.: investigator for Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Ionis (Isis) Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, MedDay Pharmaceuticals, Auris Medical, Gilead Sciences, Euroscreen (Ogeda), Alexion, Faron Pharmaceuticals, Actelion (Idorsia) Pharmaceuticals, and IPSEN. None of these studies is related to the subject discussed in the manuscript. Bucher S., Benattar-Zibi L., Ourabah R., Ringa V.: declare that they have no conflict of interest that could be perceived as prejudicing the impartiality of this report. Bauduceau B.: received consulting fees from Sanofi-Aventis, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Roche, Novo Nordisk. Berrut G.: received fees from Sanofi-Aventis, Lundbeck, Eisai, Novartis, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Amgen, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer. Bertin P.: received consulting fees from Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer, Ethypharm, Reckitt Benckiser; speaking fees from Laboratoires Genevrier, Roche, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharpand Dohme. Corruble E.: received consulting fees from Lundbeck, Eisai. Danchin N.: received consulting or speaking fees from AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, MSD–Schering Plough, Novartis, Novo Nordisk, Laboratoires Pierre Fabre, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier, Takeda, The Medicines Company. Derumeaux G.: received consulting or speaking fees from Actelion, Boehringer Ingelheim, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier; research grant from Actelion and AstraZeneca. Doucet J.: received speaking fees from Novo Nordisk; consulting fees from Sanofi-Aventis, Novo Nordisk, Merck Serono; research partnership with Eli Lilly. Falissard B.: received consulting fees from Sanofi-Aventis, Servier, Roche, AstraZeneca, Grünenthal, Eli Lilly, HRAPharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer, Novartis, Genzyme, Stallergenes, Daiichi Sankyo, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, Bristol-Myers Squibb. Forette F.: received speaking and consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eisai, Exonhit Therapeutics, Laboratoires Pierre Fabre, Ipsen, Janssen-Cilag, Eli Lilly, Lundbeck, Novartis, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Merz, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier, Schwarz Pharma, Specia, Warner-Lambert, Wyeth. Hanon O.: received speaking and consulting fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Boehringer Ingelheim, Eisai, Exonhit Therapeutics, Janssen-Cilag, Lundbeck, Novartis, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, Servier. Pasquier F.: investigator for Pfizer, Piramal, Roche, Eli Lilly, AstraZeneca, Noscira, Pharnext, Forum Pharmaceuticals, GE Healthcare; received consulting fees from Eli Lilly, Novartis, Nutricia Advanced Medical Nutrition, Sanofi-Aventis. Pinget M.: received speaking and consulting fees from Asdia, AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Medtronic, Merck Sharp and Dohme, Novo Nordisk, Novartis, Roche Diagnostics, Ypsomed. Becquemont L.: investigator for Antisense Therapeutics, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, PregLem SA, Ionis Pharmaceuticals, Novartis, Auris Medical, MedDay Pharma, Gilead Sciences; received consulting fees from Sanofi-Aventis, Pfizer, Servier; lecture fees from Genzyme, GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Merck Sharp and Dohme; a close family member works at Sanofi France., (© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.)