Atrial electromechanical delay, and left ventricular strain in pre-diabetic patients

Objectives

The aim of this study was to investigate the subclinical myocardial affection in prediabetics with the evaluation of left ventricular (LV) systolic strain and strain rate by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), and atrial electromechanical delay.

Study design

Global Longitudinal strain (GLS) and strain rate (GLSR) were assessed by STE, and Intra- and interatrial electromechanical delay (EMD) were measured utilizing tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) in 108 pre-diabetic patients and 72 age and gender matched healthy volunteers.

Results

The GLS (− 19.4 ± 2.8 vs. 23.8 ± 2.1%; p < 0.001) and GLSR () were significantly lower in prediabetics when compared with the healthy control. Pre-diabetic patients had significantly prolonged PA lateral, PA septum and PA tricuspid. The intra- (PA septum-PA tricuspid) and interatrial (PA lateral-PA tricuspid) electromechanical delays were prolonged compared to controls (p < 0.0001, p < 0.05, p < 0.001, and p < 0.002, respectively). The GLS%, GLSR and atrial electromechanical delay were highly significantly correlated with fasting blood glucose, and modestly correlated to systolic blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, and left ventricular mass index.

Conclusion

GLS%; GLSR assessed by STE was decreased; intra- and interatrial electromechanical delays were prolonged, in pre-diabetic subjects. These non-invasive indices broaden the spectrum of subclinical myocardial dysfunction in pre-diabetic patients.