Anil Vajnathrao Gavali
Associate Professor, Department of General Medicine, DY Patil School of Medicine, Mumbai
Abstract
Background: Autonomic neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus, leading to increased cardiovascular morbidity. Understanding its impact on cardiac contractility is crucial for early intervention.
Objective: To assess cardiac contractility in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, comparing those with and without autonomic neuropathy.
Material and Methods: A total of 60 patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus were included in this study, with 30 patients exhibiting autonomic neuropathy and 30 without it. The study was conducted in the Department of Medicine at a tertiary care hospital. Cardiac contractility was evaluated using echocardiographic parameters, including ejection fraction (EF) and fractional shortening (FS).
Results: Patients with autonomic neuropathy demonstrated significantly reduced contractility, with a mean EF of 52.1 ± 7.2% compared to 60.4 ± 6.5% in non-neuropathic patients (p < 0.01). FS was also significantly lower in the neuropathic group (30.2 ± 5.4% vs. 36.7 ± 4.1%, p < 0.01).
Conclusion: The study highlights that autonomic neuropathy is associated with impaired cardiac contractility in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, emphasizing the need for routine cardiovascular assessments in this population.
Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, autonomic neuropathy, cardiac contractility, echocardiography