Correlation between QTc interval prolongation and diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the relationship between QTc interval prolongation and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods A total of 797 inpatients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, from May 2014 to March 2016 at the Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism of Xijing Hospital affiliated to the Fourth Military Medical University, were selected and divided into two groups according to their fundus photography results: patients without diabetic retinopathy (NDR group, n=539) and patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR group, n=258). The general data and biochemical markers including the age, gender, diabetic duration, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) , blood lipid, and the length of the QTc interval were compared and analyzed among two groups. Statistical comparisons were performed using the Student t test or Nonparametric Tests. Pearson correlation analysis between QTc interval prolongation, diabetic retinopathy and various influencing factors. Logistic regression analysis were used to study the influencing factors for QTc interval prolongation and diabetic retinopathy. Results The mean QTc interval of all patients was (404±46) ms. The QTc interval in patients with diabetic retinopathy were significantly longer than those in patients without retinopathy [ (417±47) vs (396±44) ms, t=-4.227, P 404 ms was 1.659 times higher than those with QTc≤404 ms (OR=1.659, 95%CI: 1.208-2.378, P 440 ms was 2.729 time higher than those with QTc≤440 ms (OR=2.729, 95%CI:1.627-4.578, P<0.05). Conclusion Electrocardiogram QTc interval length is positively correlated with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Diabetic retinopathy; QTc interval; Cardiovascular events