N Natarajan ¹, M S Ramaiyah ²

^{1, 2} Associate Professor, Department of General Medicine , Kerala Medical College, Palakkad, India.

Address for correspondence: Dr N Natarajan, Associate Professor, Department of General Medicine , Kerala Medical College, Palakkad, India.

Email: natarajan2016@rediffmail.com

Objective: Cardiac Autonomic neuropathy is one of the complications in diabetic patients. This study intends to detect the prevalence of QTc prolongation in diabetic patients as well as its relationship with cardiac autonomic neuropathy.

Materials and Methods :The present study was conducted on 50 diabetic patients. Cardiac autonomic neuropathy was assessed by non-invasive tests: Deep breathing test, Valsalva ratio ,Immediate heart rate response to standing 30:15,B.P rise with sustained hand grip and postural hypotension. Scoring and grading were done for cardiac autonomic neuropathy . Even QT interval and QTc interval were determined.

Results : Out of 50 diabetic patients, 22(44%) were males and 28 (56%) females. 26 patients (52%) having grade I cardiac autonomic neuropathy had no prolonged QTc interval . While, 24 patients (48%) had QTc prolonged were associated with grade II, III and IV cardiac autonomic neuropathy. The sensitivity and specificity of prolonged QTc were 46% and 100%, respectively.

Conclusion : QTc prolongation correlated positivity with degree of cardiac autonomic neuropathy in diabetic patients.

Keywords : Diabetes mellitus, Cardiac autonomic neuropathy, QTc interval