QTC PROLONGATION, AN EARLY PREDICTOR OF CARDIOVASCULAR AUTONOMIC NEUROPATHY (CAN) IN POSTMENOPAUSAL DIABETIC WOMEN

Abstract

To evaluate QTc interval in postmenopausal diabetic women in predicting cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN). A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the Cardiology Department of CMH Lahore and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Lahore, from April 2022- April 2023. A total of 80 women were included in the study, which was categorized into 40 pre and 40 postmenopausal women. Both groups were further divided into 20 diabetic and 20 non-diabetic women. A cut-off of 3-5 years was selected for natural menopause and 5-7 years for the available duration of type 2 diabetes. Blood samples were taken to determine serum estradiol levels in all 4 groups. Autonomic neuropathy was assessed by corrected QT interval (QTc), heart rate variability (HRV), Valsalva Ratio (VR), and resting heart rate (RHR). All variables were compared among groups by using SPSS version 20.0. Serum estradiol levels were significantly lowered in postmenopausal as compared to premenopausal women (p<0.001). QTc was significantly different (p=0.001) among all four groups. A statistically significant difference was found between premenopausal diabetic and postmenopausal diabetic groups (p=0.001) and between women of premenopausal non-diabetic and postmenopausal diabetic groups (p=0.003). Differences in RHR (p=0.840), HRV (p=0.084), and VR (p=0.129) were statistically nonsignificant among all four groups. A QTc prolongation is an important tool in investigating cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN) predisposition in postmenopausal diabetic women. Therefore, assessment of QTc prolongation could aid in early diagnosis of CAN in postmenopausal diabetic women.