ABSTRACT
Objective To evaluate left ventricular geometry and function in elderly type 2 diabetic patients with normal and high pulse pressure by using three-dimensional speckle-tracking echocardiography (3DSTE).Methods A total of 76 elderly non-hypertensive type 2 diabetic patients were divided into type 2 diabetic combined with high pulse pressure group (n=36;24 h pulse pressure ≥60 mmHg) and type 2 diabetic combined with normal pulse pressure group (n=40).Forty age-and sex-matched healthy volunteers with normal 24 h pulse pressure were recruited as control group.3DSTE was performed in all participants.Results Significant differences in left ventricle geometry were found among the three groups (x2 =8.428,P=0.015),and concentric geometry was most prevalent in type 2 diabetic patients with high pulse pressure group.Global longitudinal strain in type 2 diabetic patients with normal pulse pressure group was significantly lower than that of control group (P＜0.001).The type 2 diabetic combined with high pulse pressure group showed severely lower strain values in all directions compared with control group and type 2 diabetic combined with normal pulse pressure group (all P＜0.05).Conclusion 3DSTEC can detect subclinical cardiac abnormalities in elderly type 2 diabetic patients with normal and high pulse pressure.