Cardiac Autonomic Function Is Associated With the Coronary Microcirculatory Function in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Cardiac Autonomic Function Is Associated With the Coronary Microcirculatory Function in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

AU - von Scholten, Bernt Johan

AU - Hansen, Christian Stevns

AU - Hasbak, Philip

AU - Kjær, Andreas

AU - Rossing, Peter

AU - Hansen, Tine Willum

N1 - © 2016 by the American Diabetes Association.

PY - 2016/10/1

Y1 - 2016/10/1

N2 - Cardiac autonomic dysfunction and cardiac microvascular dysfunction are diabetic complications associated with increased mortality, but the association between these has been difficult to assess. We applied new and sensitive methods to assess this in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In a cross-sectional design, coronary flow reserve (CFR) assessed by cardiac (82)Rb-positron emission tomography/computed tomography, cardiac autonomic reflex tests, and heart rate variability indices were performed in 55 patients with T2DM, without cardiovascular disease, and in 28 control subjects. Cardiac (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy was conducted in a subgroup of 29 patients and 14 control subjects and evaluated as the late heart-to-mediastinum ratio and washout rate. Impaired function of all the cardiac autonomic measures (except the washout rate) was associated with reduced CFR. A heart rate variability index, reflecting sympathetic and parasympathetic function (low-frequency power), and the late heart-to-mediastinum ratio, reflecting the function of adrenergic receptors and sympathetic activity, were positively correlated with CFR after adjustment for age and heart rate. The late heart-to- mediastinum ratio remained correlated with CFR after further adjustment. In patients with T2DM without cardiovascular disease, we demonstrate an independent association between cardiac autonomic function and CFR. We suggest that a reduced cardiac autonomic function and damage to the adrenergic receptors may contribute to the development of cardiac microvascular dysfunction.

AB - Cardiac autonomic dysfunction and cardiac microvascular dysfunction are diabetic complications associated with increased mortality, but the association between these has been difficult to assess. We applied new and sensitive methods to assess this in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). In a cross-sectional design, coronary flow reserve (CFR) assessed by cardiac (82)Rb-positron emission tomography/computed tomography, cardiac autonomic reflex tests, and heart rate variability indices were performed in 55 patients with T2DM, without cardiovascular disease, and in 28 control subjects. Cardiac (123)I-metaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy was conducted in a subgroup of 29 patients and 14 control subjects and evaluated as the late heart-to-mediastinum ratio and washout rate. Impaired function of all the cardiac autonomic measures (except the washout rate) was associated with reduced CFR. A heart rate variability index, reflecting sympathetic and parasympathetic function (low-frequency power), and the late heart-to-mediastinum ratio, reflecting the function of adrenergic receptors and sympathetic activity, were positively correlated with CFR after adjustment for age and heart rate. The late heart-to- mediastinum ratio remained correlated with CFR after further adjustment. In patients with T2DM without cardiovascular disease, we demonstrate an independent association between cardiac autonomic function and CFR. We suggest that a reduced cardiac autonomic function and damage to the adrenergic receptors may contribute to the development of cardiac microvascular dysfunction.

KW - Journal Article

U2 - 10.2337/db16-0437

DO - 10.2337/db16-0437

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 27352886

SN - 0012-1797

VL - 65

SP - 3129

EP - 3138

JO - Diabetes

JF - Diabetes

IS - 10

ER -