Heart rate variability in diabetic autonomic neuropathy

Abstract

Autonomic neuropathy is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in diabetes. This study compares the heart rate variation of diabetic patients with abnormal cardiovascular reflexes with diabetic control group with no cardiac autonomic denervation (CAD) and a normal control group. Three groups of patients were studied. All patients underwent autonomic function tests. 1. Five non diabetic controls. 2. nine patients with CAD. 3. Four patients without CAD. Twenty-four hour heart rate monitoring performed using a portable FM transmitter. Standard deviation of the average R-R interval calculated over short periods is used to calculate an index (SDNN index). Mean age group of two groups of patients and control group was similar. SDNN index of the control subjects were 130.87 ms and in patients without CAD is 123.44 ms. In patients with CAD the SDNN index was 32.2ms. There is a significant difference in heart rate variation between control subjects and patients with CAD. There is no significant difference in heart rate variation between controls and diabetics without CAD.

Abstract : Autonomic neuropathy is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in diabetes. This study compares the heart rate variation of diabetic patients with abnormal cardiovascular reflexes with diabetic control group with no cardiac autonomic denervation (CAD) and a normal control group. Three groups of patients were studied. All patients underwent autonomic function tests. 1. Five non diabetic controls. 2. nine patients with CAD. 3. Four patients without CAD. Twenty-four hour heart rate monitoring performed using a portable FM transmitter. Standard deviation of the average R-R interval calculated over short periods is used to calculate an index (SDNN index). Mean age group of two groups of patients and control group was similar. SDNN index of the control subjects were 130.87 ms and in patients without CAD is 123.44 ms. In patients with CAD the SDNN index was 32.2ms. There is a significant difference in heart rate variation between control subjects and patients with CAD. There is no significant difference in heart rate variation between controls and diabetics without CAD.