What is it about?
Prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) is progressively increasing, contributing to a parallel increase in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and more than doubling the incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Certain electrocardiographic (ECG) characteristics, such as alternans of the T wave (TWA), heart rate variability (HRV) and dispersion of the QT interval, have been found to be predictive of the risk of SCD. This review focuses on ECG changes that could be found in diabetics and their potential implication for SCD risk.
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Why is it important?
The use of drugs that regulate glucose metabolism in diabetic patients may in itself increase paradoxically the cardiovascular risk, by direct or indirect side effects. This is a very important consideration because it implies that there is an increased cardiovascular risk in diabetics, persisting even when these patients receive guideline recommended treatment.
Perspectives
Certain ECG changes, as QTd, TWA and HRV, are more prevalent in diabetic patients compared to their non-diabetic counterparts, and are associated with a worse prognosis. Subtle ECG changes could also be found in pre-diabetic states.
Dr Giovanni Bortolan
IT CNR
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: A Review on Electrocardiographic Changes in Diabetic Patients, Current Diabetes Reviews, April 2015, Bentham Science Publishers,
DOI: 10.2174/1573399811666150113161417.
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