Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 16, 2025
Author Spotlight: Assessing the Cardiovascular Profile of Patients with Metabolic Syndrome
Published on: September 27, 2024
Detection of Early Ultrasonographic Markers of Cardiovascular Dysfunction in Prediabetes Patients
Firmino Sm1, Wende Kw2, Gregorio Jp2
1Cardiology and Exercise Research Center Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Federal University of São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil.
Insights
Prediabetes patients exhibit early signs of cardiac dysfunction and arterial stiffness. These findings highlight the need for optimized preventive strategies against cardiovascular outcomes like diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Endocrinology
- Vascular Biology
Background:
- Prediabetes is associated with early cardiovascular injury and adverse outcomes.
- Identifying early markers of cardiac dysfunction and arterial stiffness is crucial for glucose-intolerant individuals.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify early ultrasonographic markers of cardiac dysfunction.
- To assess arterial stiffness in prediabetes patients compared to normoglycemic individuals.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study comparing prediabetes (PD) and normoglycemic (NG) groups.
- Utilized transthoracic echocardiography for cardiac function assessment.
- Measured carotid intima-media thickness and arterial stiffness (Pulse Wave Velocity) using ultrasonography and SphygmoCor®.
Main Results:
- Prediabetes patients showed significantly reduced peak mitral velocity (E) and tricuspid inflow (E/A), and impaired tricuspid tissue Doppler (E').
- Increased arterial stiffness, indicated by higher Pulse Wave Velocity (PWV), was observed in the prediabetes group.
- Impaired oral glucose tolerance independently correlated with reduced mitral inflow velocity (E).
Conclusions:
- Prediabetes patients demonstrate early cardiac dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness.
- These findings support the need for enhanced preventive strategies targeting cardiovascular outcomes, including diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Background:
Prediabetes individuals may present incipient signals of cardiovascular injury and evaluate with unfavorable outcome. The aim of this study was to identify early ultrasonographic markers of cardiac dysfunction and arterial stiffness among glucose intolerant patients compared to healthy individuals.
Methods:
Cross-sectional study with the composition of two groups: Prediabetes (PD) who met the criteria for pre-diabetes and Normoglycemic (NG): presented no criteria of pre-diabetes and diabetes mellitus in all applied tests. Clinical evaluation, assessment of cardiac function by transthoracic echocardiogram, carotid intima-media thickness by carotid ultrasonographic and evaluation of arterial stiffness by SphygmoCor® device was performed.
Results:
Eighty adults were included in this study: PD (n = 43) and NG (n = 37). PD patients were more dyslipidemic and presented early alterations in echocardiographic variables, like: peak mitral velocity E (E (cm/sec): NG 84 ± 13 vs. PD 77 ± 11, P = 0.03), E/A Tricuspid inflow (NG: 1.5 ± 0.4 vs. PD 1.3 ± 0.3, P = 0.03), Tricuspid tissue Doppler E' (E'tric (cm/sec): NG 15.2 ± 4.4 vs. PD 13.4 ± 3.2, P = 0.04) and increased arterial stiffness (Pulse Wave Velocity: PWV (m/s): NG 7.2 ± 1.5 vs. PD 7.9 ± 1.7, P = 0.03). In the regression analysis, having an impaired oral glucose test was shown to be independently associated with reduced E Mitral, even after adjusting for a set of confounding factors.
Conclusions:
PD patients showed early signals of an impaired cardiac function and an increased pulse wave velocity when compared with healthy individuals. These results point to treatment optimization strategies, especially when considering preventive measures for cardiovascular outcomes, like diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Assessing Blood pressure using a doppler ultrasound
Pre-Procedural Guidelines for Doppler Ultrasound Blood Pressure Assessment:
Preparation of Equipment:
01:21Peripheral Arterial Disease II: Clinical Manifestations and Diagnostic Evaluation
01:15Diabetes: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Complications
01:30Dysrhythmias V: Evaluating Dysrhythmias
01:20Blood Studies for Cardiovascular System I: Cardiac Biomarkers
The essential diagnostic tools for detecting myocardial necrosis and monitoring individuals suspected of having acute coronary syndrome (ACS) include:
Troponins
Troponins, particularly cardiac troponins I and T, are the most precise and sensitive markers of myocardial injury. They are detectable within 4-6 hours of myocardial injury and remain...
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational