Association Between Left Ventricular Strains and Cardiovascular Risk Factors in Type 2 Diabetic Patients: a Controlled Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Cardiovascular complications are the leading cause of death in diabetic patients. Speckle tracking echocardiography can early detect left ventricular systolic dysfunction even when normal ejection fraction.

Objective: The study aims to evaluate left ventricular systolic function by Speckle tracking echocardiography and its relation with cardiovascular risk factors in type 2 diabetic patients.

Methods: A controlled cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted on 150 patients (75 type 2 diabetic patients and 75 controls).

Results: Type 2 diabetic patients had global longitudinal strain (-17.02±3.06%), global circumferential strain (-29.04±6.39%) were lower than the control group (p<0.05). Global longitudinal strain was correlated with systolic blood pressure (r=0.3), diastolic blood pressure (r=0.2), fasting plasma glucose (r=0.5), HbA1c (r=0.2), total cholesterol (r=-0.25), (p<0.05). Global circumferential strain was correlated with systolic blood pressure (r=0.2), diastolic blood pressure (r=0.2), HDL (r=-0.3), (p<0.05).

Conclusion: Type 2 diabetic patients have reduced global longitudinal strain and global circumferential strain. The reduction of global longitudinal strain, global circumferential strain was correlated with cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, not good glycemia control, increasing BMI, dyslipidemia).