Asymtomatic cardiac changes in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Background and Aim India is world’s diabetes Capital. The prevalence of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is expected to raise more rapidly in the future in India and 40 other countries because of increasing obesity and reducing activity levels and other life style changes. It is well established that coronary artery disease is a major complication of diabetes mellitus, representing the ultimate cause of death in more than half of all patients with this disease. In this study we made an effort to know the cardiac changes present in the patients of Type 2 Diabetes, who do not have any symptoms relating to cardiovascular system and to demonstrate the presence of silent myocardial ischemia in asymptomatic patients of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus. Methodology 60 Type 2 diabetes patients for more than one year duration with age 30-75 yrs who do not have any complaints relating to cardiovascular system were included in this study. All were assessed with detailed history, clinical examination and relevant investigation including resting ECG and Treadmill test. Patients with H/O d myocardial infarction, uncontrolled blood pressure and other chronic diseases were excluded from the study Results in the 60 diabetes patients in our study, 32 patients were males and remaining 28 were Females. None of our patients showed Resting. ECG and 2D ECHO changes. 11 patients from our study group showed inducible ischemia in the Treadmill test. Hypertriglyceridemia which is a common risk factor associated with coronary artery disease was found in 31 patients (51.66%) in our study group. Conclusion this study shows that type 2 diabetes patients especially of longer duration should undergo cardiac evaluation even though they do not have any symptoms relating to cardiovascular system.