Prevalence and Glycaemic Indices of Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Tertiary Care Centre

Abstract

Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a progressive metabolic disorder marked by persistent hyperglycaemia, which significantly elevates the risk for various systemic complications, particularly cardiovascular disease. Among these, diabetic cardiomyopathy is a unique condition characterized by ventricular dysfunction in the absence of hypertension or coronary artery disease. Diastolic dysfunction, an early manifestation of diabetic cardiomyopathy, may remain asymptomatic yet poses a serious risk for future heart failure. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) in patients with T2DM and to explore the relationship between LVDD and glycaemic parameters such as fasting blood glucose, postprandial glucose, and HbA1C levels. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a tertiary care centre at Puducherry, over one year (October 2022 to September 2023). A total of 100 normotensive T2DM patients aged over 18 years were enrolled based on ADA diagnostic criteria. Data collection included clinical assessment, laboratory investigations, and tissue Doppler echocardiography. The prevalence of diastolic dysfunction was found to be 91%, with Grade I dysfunction being the most common (41%). A strong positive correlation was observed between glycaemic indices and the severity of LVDD. These findings underscore the importance of early cardiac screening in diabetics and suggest that better glycaemic control could play a role in preventing cardiac dysfunction in this population.