Cardiovascular Autonomic Neuropathy in Patients with Diabetes in Cotonou, Benin: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background Diabetes mellitus is well known as a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is one of the diabetes complications that has a major impact on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Aim : To determine the prevalence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in patients with diabetes attending the diabetic center in Cotonou and to identify its risk factors. Materials and Methods : It was a cross-sectional study. Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was identified using deep breathing test, standind test and the blood pressure response to standing test (orthostatic hypotension). Chi square test was used for statistical analysis and différence was considered significant when p<0.05. Results : A total of 405 subjects were included in the study. Their mean age was 53.67±11,68 years and the mean diabetes duration was 6.66 years. The prevalence of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was 65.9%. Regarding the severity of the complication in neuropathic patients, 51.7% of them had an early neuropathy, 41.2% have presented a moderate neuropathy and 7.1% have presented a severe neuropathy. Factors associated with cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy were age of patients (p = 0.0002), diabetes duration (p = 0.0012), hypertension (p =0.0015), dyslipidemia (p = 0.027) and high pulsed blood pressure (p = 0.032) Conclusion : Cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy is a very frequent complication of diabetes mellitus. Unfortunately this complication of diabetes is not often explored in the patient's follow-up examination. As this complication is recognised to be associated with high cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, systematic screening can be recommanded in patients with long duration of diabetes or presenting an other cardiovascular risk factor.