The Effect of Type 2 Diabetes on Diastolic Function

Purpose: This study aimed to determine whether sedentary overweight subjects with type 2 diabetes have impaired diastolic function compared with equally sedentary and overweight nondiabetic subjects. Methods: Mitral valve pulsed Doppler echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) were used to assess left ventricular structure and diastolic function in 40- to 60-yr-old sedentary overweight subjects with type 2 diabetes (N = 13) and age- and body mass-matched sedentary nondiabetic subjects (N = 15). Pseudonormal filling was identified using preload reduction and TDI. Results: Traditional Doppler mitral inflow parameters were not different between groups; however, early diastolic relaxation, as measured by peak early mitral annular velocity (E′) and the ratio of E′ and peak late mitral annular velocity (E′/A′), was reduced in type 2 diabetic subjects (P < 0.05). The ratio of peak early mitral inflow (E) to E′ (E/E′), an estimate of left ventricular filling pressure, was also higher in the type 2 diabetes group (P < 0.05). The proportions of diastolic impairment (69 vs 40%) and pseudonormal filling (39 vs 20%) were not different between groups (P = 0.18). Conclusion: These findings suggest that type 2 diabetes has an effect on diastolic function that is independent of age and body composition.