Abstract 12183: Strain Dispersion is an Early Subclinical Manifestation of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Assessed by 3D Echocardiography

Abstract

Introduction: The risk of heart failure is increased in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (type 2 DM) independently of risk factors such as coronary artery disease. The causes of diabetic cardiomyopathy are multifactorial and not fully elucidated. 3D echocardiography deformation imaging provides a non-invasive assessment of the structure and function of the left ventricle (LV) and has been shown to improve risk evaluation in patients with congestive cardiac failure (CCF). Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the earliest subclinical manifestations of diabetic cardiomyopathy using deformation imaging. Method: 20 patients (mean age 58.6±1.8) with early-onset, uncomplicated type 2 DM, 20 healthy volunteers (mean age 53.3±2.8) and 10 patients with advanced CCF (NYHA class III+IV) (mean age 69.2±3.0) were studied. Strain dispersion was assessed by calculating the standard deviation of time to peak longitudinal strain across 16 segments of the LV. Results: Diabetic patients were matched with the controls for age and gender. Strain dispersion was increased in patients with type 2 DM when compared to healthy controls (p= 0.001) and global longitudinal strain was decreased (p=0.001). Strain dispersion in type 2 DM and CCF cohorts yielded similar values and were not significantly different (46.5±6.4 vs 52.2±7.9, respectively p=0.3). Conclusion: Strain dispersion is increased in uncomplicated type 2 DM patients with a short duration of disease. 3D echocardiographic deformation imaging is a sensitive non-invasive tool that could be helpful in the assessment of subclinical cardiac involvement in patients with type 2 DM.