Subclinical right ventricular dysfunction in diabetes mellitus--an ultrasonic strain/strain rate study

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Diabetology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Left ventricular dysfunction is a known diabetes complication.
• Right ventricular (RV) function in diabetes is less understood.
• Early detection of RV dysfunction is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate preclinical effects of diabetes on RV systolic and diastolic function.
• To utilize echocardiographic strain/strain rate imaging for RV assessment.
• To evaluate RV performance in asymptomatic individuals with diabetes.

Main Methods:

• Studied 33 diabetes (DM) and 40 diabetes with hypertension (DMHT) patients, excluding CAD and pulmonary hypertension.
• Included 36 healthy controls for comparison.
• Performed echocardiography with strain/strain rate imaging, analyzing RV free wall basal and apical segments for systolic strain, SRs, and SRe.

Main Results:

• Patients with diabetes (DM and DMHT) showed significantly reduced RV systolic strain and SRs compared to controls.
• Decreased RV early diastolic strain rate (SRe) indicated diastolic dysfunction in diabetic patients.
• Systolic dysfunction was more pronounced in apical segments; no significant differences between DM and DMHT groups.

Conclusions:

• Diabetes mellitus is linked to subclinical RV systolic dysfunction.
• Diabetes is also associated with subclinical RV diastolic dysfunction.
• These RV abnormalities occur irrespective of coexisting hypertension.