Silent Myocardial Ischemia in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus During Exercise Tolerance Testing

patients with diabetes were compared with 20 non-diabetic subjects, with respect to the prevalence of silent myocardial ischemia, by means of treadmill exercise testing. Results of treadmill exercise testing showed is- chemia in 14 of the 50 diabetic patients (mean age 49.2 * 1.3) and in 2 of 20 non-diabetic control subjects (mean age 49 * 6 y.) (28%VS lo%, P < 0.05). Diabetics with "positive treadmill" had a higher serum total choles- terol and lower serum high density cholesterol than "negative treadmill" di- abetics. Diabetic patients with retinopathy had a higher prevalence of si- lent myocardial ischemia (40%) than those who did not (25%, p < 0.05). Diabetics above the age of 40 years should be screened with treadmill exer- cise testing.