Evaluation of the Right Ventricular Function in Prediabetes: A 2-D Speckle Tracking Echocardiographic Study

Pre-diabetes is a common condition associated with cardiovascular changes. The aim of our study was to evaluate the right ventricular (RV) function as assessed by 2-D speckle tracking echocardiography in pre-diabetic patients. This study recruited 94 patients (33 normal patients, 31 pre-diabetic patients and 30 diabetic patients). The absolute amount of the global peak systolic strain, the systolic strain rate and the early diastolic strain rate of the RV free wall (RVFW) was higher in the control group than in the pre-diabetic and diabetic groups. These indices were not different between the pre-diabetic and diabetic groups. The global late diastolic strain rate of RVFW was the same between the three groups. Also, pre-diabetes and diabetes were the independent predictors of the RVFW global peak systolic strain, systolic strain rate and diastolic strain rate. Our study demonstrated that the RV systolic and diastolic functions were impaired in the pre-diabetic and diabetic patients without obstructive coronary artery disease. Also, pre-diabetes and diabetes were independent predictors of systolic and diastolic functions of the RV.