Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and its Impact on Cardiac Autonomic Function and ECG Patterns: A Comparative Study

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Globally, diabetes mellitus has become a significant public health concern, particularly in India. Diabetic neuropathy is prevalent in approximately half of individuals with long-standing diabetes mellitus. Several factors, including the duration of diabetes, glycemic control, age, and gender, contribute to cardiac autonomic dysfunction in diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to investigate different electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients compared to a control group. Methodology: This research adopted a hospital-based cross-sectional approach, involving 65 diabetic patients and 65 control subjects who were matched for age and gender. Resting ECG readings were obtained from both study and control groups. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 19.0, employing the unpaired t-test to assess differences in means. A pvalue less than 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.
Results: The study findings indicated significant variations in certain ECG parameters, including resting heart rate, RR interval, PR interval, QRS axis, and QTc interval, between the study and control groups. Additionally, diabetic patients exhibited a higher incidence of abnormal heart rate responses during deep breathing and postural hypotension.
Conclusion: The assessment of cardiovascular reflexes and ECG in type 2 diabetic patients offers a practical approach for identifying the presence of cardiac dysautonomia.