Silent ischemia in diabetic patients

ABSTRACT

In order to assess the association between autonomic dysfunction and abnormal but silent ST segment depression, 120 diabetic patients [age [25 - 77 years]; 38 type 1 DM,. 82 type 2 DM, 66 males, 54 females] and 65 without diabetes i.e. control subjects [age [25 - 72 years], 48 males, 17 females], without a history of chest pain were investigated. Autonomic dysfunction was evaluating by autonomic function tests. Transient ST segment depression was assessed by exercise treadmill testing [ETT] [Bruce Protocol]. Abnormal [>/= 1 mm] ST segment depression horizontally or down sloping below the baseline i.e. PR segment, measured 0.08 seconds after the J point was observed in 40 [33.3%] of diabetic group [30 [37.5%] in diabetes, with autonomic dysfunction and 10 [25%] in diabetes without autonomic dysfunction] and 7 [1.0.8%] of control group. It was calculated that autonomic dysfunction could be a possible explanation for lacking symptoms from abnormal ST segment depression in diabetic patients [P <0.05]