Comparison of echocardiographic variables between type I diabetics and normal controls

Abstract

This report compares echocardiographic estimates of systolic and diastolic function and ventricular dimensions in type I diabetics and normal controls. A random sample of 60 diabetics selected from a central hospital diabetic clinic was compared with a sample of 40 nondiabetic controls, and matched to the diabetics by age, gender, and blood pressure. Simple comparisons showed that diabetics had a higher mean resting heart rate (HR) (p < 0.001) and a slower diastolic early filling phase (maximal rate of increase in left ventricular dimension in early diastole [dv/dtmax], p = 0.08; time from end-systole until dv/dtmax [ES-dv/dtmax], p = 0.03), which were explained by differences in HR and other factors. Resting HR was significantly associated with several echocardiographic variables, but the slope relating resting HR to ventricular dimension was more negative in diabetics than in controls (end-diastolic diameter, p < 0.008; end-systolic diameter, p < 0.005), and the ratio of systolic to diastolic duration was significantly (p < 0.01) less positive in diabetics. The association of resting HR to duration of isovolumic diastole was positive in diabetics and negative in controls (p < 0.02). Among diabetics, those with higher resting HR had more retinopathy (p < 0.05), microalbuminuria (p < 0.05), smaller ventricles (p < 0.01), and longer isovolumic diastole (p < 0.05). Poorer diabetic control was associated with poorer systolic (fractional shortening, p < 0.05) and diastolic (dv/dtmax, p < 0.05; ES-dv/ dtmax, p < 0.05) function. Longer duration of diabetes (adjusted for age) was associated with more retinopathy (p < 0.01) and microalbuminuria (p < 0.01), but there were no clear differences in cardiac function. Thus, resting HR, duration of diabetes, and adequacy of control predict complications in diabetics.