Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome in Young Diabetics

Abstract

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome is a condition characterized by imbalance in autonomic reactivity leading to exaggerated heart rate and other symptoms of orthostatic intolerance. In adolescents, it is characterized either by a continuous increase in heart rate of ≥40 bpm as compared to basal heart rate or sustained basal rate of ≥130 bpm. The objective of the research was to compare the characteristics of adolescent diabetics with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome with the controls. Methods. Seventy adolescents diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus who were treated at the department of Endocrinology, Government Medical College and Shri Maharaja Hari Singh hospital, Srinagar, J&K, India were selected for the study. Lying to standing test was performed. Heart rate was recorded at the 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 10th minutes. Based on the results of lying to standing test, there were selected 25 diabetic adolescents with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Their characteristics were compared with age- and sex-matched adolescents using unpaired T test. P< 0.05 was considered significant. Results. We observed a significantly lower body mass index (p=0.027), as well as a significantly higher fasting blood glucose level (p<0.0001) in diabetics with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. Conclusion. It may be concluded that lower body mass index and higher fasting blood glucose level may lead to the development of postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome in adolescents.