Relationships between parameters of cardiorespiratory function and bioimpedance analysis in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) triggers disruption of oxygen transport system in patients. The maximum oxygen consumption (VO2 max) during spiroergometry depends on the functional capabilities and composition of the body. Moreover, VO2 max may be considered a predictor of pathological changes in cardiovascular system. Aim. The purpose of the study was to investigate the compositional body characteristics and functional cardiorespiratory parameters in T1DM patients. Material and Methods. The study comprised 30 patients with T1DM (average age of 25.5 ± 8.1 years) and 10 patients of control group (average age of 27 ± 9 years). Patients received spiroergometry examination according to B. Bruce protocol and bioimpedansometry using the Inbody 770 apparatus. The study showed that T1DM patients reached anaerobic threshold faster (p = 0.032) and had significantly lower VO2 max and carbon dioxide emission compared to patients without diabetes (p = 0.021; p = 0.034) whereas exercise tolerance did not significantly differ compared with the corresponding value in control group. Patients with higher muscle mass i.e. muscle tissue weight (kg) according to bioimpedance measurements had higher values of VO2 max (L) in control group (p = 0.017) and in group of T1DM patients (p = 0.028). Conclusions: Young T1DM patients without cardiovascular diseases had significantly less effective cardiorespiratory system compared with that in people without diabetes even in those with high exercise tolerance. Rapid achievement of anaerobic threshold with preserved performance efficiency was a sign of unfavorable prognosis. Body mass index and lean body mass did not significantly affect the performance parameters in young T1DM patients. Screening of spiroergometry parameters may be used for identification of young T1DM patients at high risk of unfavorable cardiovascular diseases including chronic heart failure.