Aim
To compare the cardiac function and pulmonary vascular function during exercise between dyspneic and non-dyspneic patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods
47 T2DM patients with unexplained dyspnea and 50 asymptomatic T2DM patients underwent exercise echocardiography combined with ergospirometry. Left ventricular (LV) function (stroke volume, cardiac output, LV ejection fraction, systolic annular velocity (s’)), estimated LV filling pressures (E/e’), mean pulmonary arterial pressures (mPAP) and mPAP/COslope were assessed at rest, low- and high-intensity exercise with colloid contrast.
Results
Groups had similar patient characteristics, glycemic control, stroke volume, cardiac output, LV ejection fraction and E/e’ (p > 0.05). The dyspneic group had significantly lower systolic LV reserve at peak exercise (s’) (p = 0.021) with a significant interaction effect (p < 0.001). The dyspneic group also had significantly higher mPAP and mPAP/CO at rest and exercise (p < 0.001) with significant interaction for mPAP (p < 0.009) and insignificant for mPAP/CO (p = 0.385). There was no significant difference in mPAP/COslope between groups (p = 0.706). However, about 61% of dyspneic vs. 30% of non-dyspneic group had mPAP/COslope > 3 (p = 0.009). The mPAP/COslope negatively predicted V̇O2peak in dyspneic group (β= -1.86, 95% CI -2.75, -0.98; multivariate model R²:0.54).
Conclusion
Pulmonary hypertension and less LV systolic reserve detected by exercise echocardiography with colloid contrast underlie unexplained exertional dyspnea and reduced exercise capacity in T2DM.