ECG body surface mapping (BSM) in type 1 diabetic patients

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Diabetology
• Electrophysiology

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus is a significant risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
• Type 1 diabetes (DM 1) is associated with autonomic dysfunction and cardiac repolarization abnormalities.
• These abnormalities increase the risk of ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death in young individuals with DM 1.

Purpose of the Study:

• To measure and compare 145 heart electric field parameters between patients with DM 1 and healthy controls.
• To identify specific electrocardiographic (ECG) differences indicative of cardiac risk in DM 1.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Cardiag 112.2 diagnostic system to record heart electric field parameters in 22 DM 1 patients and 22 controls.
• Statistically analyzed data using Student's and Mann-Whitney tests.
• Measured parameters including heart rate, QRS duration, QT interval, QT dispersion, and detailed depolarization/repolarization maps.

Main Results:

• DM 1 patients showed significant tachycardia, shortened QRS and QT intervals, and markedly increased QT dispersion compared to controls.
• Significant differences were observed in depolarization and repolarization maps, including higher maximum depolarization isopotential maps and lower repolarization isopotential maps in DM 1.
• A decreased parasympathetic to sympathetic tone ratio was confirmed in DM 1 patients.

Conclusions:

• Heart electric field analysis reveals distinct depolarization and repolarization patterns in DM 1 patients.
• These findings underscore the importance of ECG examinations in the cardiovascular disease prevention strategies for type 1 diabetes.
• Abnormalities detected by body surface potential mapping (BSPM) highlight the need for proactive cardiac risk management in DM 1.