Correlation between Predictors for Diabetic Gastroparesis and Gastric Emptying Scintigraphy

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of gastroparesis in diabetic patients with severe upper gastrointestinal symptoms and to examine the predictors of diabetic gastroparesis to improve the efficiency of gastric emptying scintigraphy. Gastric emptying of a solid meal (scintigraphy) was measured in 40 patients with diabetes (10 type 1 and 30 type 2) who had severe upper abdominal symptoms. All patients were evaluated for anthropometry, lipid profiles, glycated hemoglobin, cardiac autonomic neuropathy, and other chronic diabetic complications. Of the 40 patients who underwent scintigraphy, the gastric emptying of solids was delayed in 16 (40%) patients, and 24 (60%) patients had cardiac autonomic neuropathy. The BBV cardiac beat-to-beat variability test score correlated positively with the gastric emptying time [OR=6.78 (1.53-30.04), p=0.018]. The deep breathing test (abnormal E/I ratio), one of the BBV tests, correlated positively with the gastric emptying rate of solids [OR=7.00 (1.27-38.36), p=0.025]. However, delayed gastric emptying was not related to the type or duration of diabetes, abdominal symptoms, glycated hemoglobin, body mass index, lipid profiles, or other chronic diabetic complications. Our results suggest that the BBV test, especially the abnormal deep breathing test, is associated with an increased risk of diabetic gastroparesis in diabetic patients with gastrointestinal symptoms.