Quality of life and Indian Diabetes Risk Score are linked to heart rate variability in young individuals with prediabetes and diabetes in India

Abstract

Background and Aim: Although diabetes is known to be associated with cardiac autonomic neuropathy and depressed quality of life (QoL) in terms of physical and psychological domains due to the disease duration and complications, till date no reports are available to show the link between QoL and Indian Diabetes Risk Score (IDRS) with cardiac autonomic neuropathy assessed with heart rate variability (HRV) in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus and prediabetes without comorbidities. IDRS is known to predict cardiometabolic risks, neuropathy and future diabetes risk even in normoglycemic subjects. Hence, in this study, we have planned to assess the plausible link between QoL scale and IDRS with HRV in young Indian individuals with newly diagnosed diabetes and prediabetes. Methods: Among 328 (18–45 years) age-matched individuals, 78 were included as controls, 126 in prediabetes group, and 124 in newly diagnosed diabetes group. Subject's QoL and IDRS were assessed by questionnaires, and resting HRV were recorded. Fasting blood glucose (FBG) and fasting insulin was estimated, and homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. Independent association of ratio of low-frequency to high-frequency power (LF: HF ratio) with other variables was analyzed by multiple regression analysis. Results: HRV and QoL were significantly decreased; IDRS, FBG, fasting insulin, and HOMA-IR were significantly increased in prediabetes and diabetes group compared to controls with an equal level of significance. Furthermore, these parameters showed significant difference that was more intense in diabetes group compared with prediabetes group. Conclusion: The association of sympathovagal imbalance in terms of LF: HF ratio with QoL and IDRS was found in Indian adults with prediabetes and diabetes even in the younger age without having any disease complications.