Prevalence and prognosis of left ventricular systolic dysfunction in asymptomatic diabetic patients without known coronary artery disease referred for stress single-photon emission computed tomography and assessment of left ventricular function

Panithaya Chareonthaitawee, Paul Sorajja, Navin Rajagopalan, Todd D. Miller, David O. Hodge, Robert L. Frye, Raymond J. Gibbons

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: The prevalence and prognosis of reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in asymptomatic diabetic patients without known coronary artery disease (CAD) are not known. Methods: We examined 1046 asymptomatic diabetic patients (age 60 ± 13 years, 69% male) without known CAD referred to a tertiary referral center for stress single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and assessment of LVEF. Patients were stratified according to the presence of normal LVEF (≥50%), mildly reduced LVEF (35%-49%), or moderately/severely reduced LVEF (<35%). Single-photon emission computed tomographic images were classified as low, intermediate, or high risk based on the summed stress score (normal = 56). The mean follow-up was 5.3 ± 3.3 years. Results: The prevalence of reduced LVEF was 16.7% (n = 175, mean LVEF 40.0% ± 7.7%). This group was older (63 ± 11 vs 59 ± 14 years, P = .005), had more peripheral arterial disease (45% vs 29%, P < .001), and had a higher prevalence of electrocardiographic Q waves (21% vs 9%, P < .001) than the group without reduced LVEF. Mean summed stress (44.8 ± 9.8 vs 51.7 ± 6.3, P < .001), summed reversibility (4.7 ± 5.0 vs 2.9 ± 4.5, P < .001), and summed rest scores (49.4 ± 7.2 vs 54.6 ± 3.1, P < .001) were significantly more abnormal in the reduced LVEF group. High-risk summed stress score was significantly more common in the reduced LVEF group (46% vs 16%, P < .001). Survival was significantly lower in patients with any reduction in LVEF compared with those without reduced LVEF (10-year survival, 29% vs 57%, P < .0001). By multivariate analysis, reduced LVEF was independently associated with increased mortality (adjusted χ2 = 6.26, P = .01). Conclusions: In this population of asymptomatic diabetic patients without known CAD referred for stress SPECT, 1 in 6 patients had reduced LVEF. Most of these patients have intermediate-/high-risk SPECT scans. The annual mortality rates of the groups with and without reduced LVEF were 7% and 4%, respectively.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)567-574
Number of pages8
JournalAmerican heart journal
Volume154
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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