COMPARATIVE STUDY ON HEART RATE VARIABILITY BETWEEN TYPE 2 DIABETICS AND HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS

Background: Autonomic dysfunction is one of the major sequels in the setting of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and various diagnostic tests have been developed for assessing it. Analysis of heart rate variability is one among them. Objective: To compare the heart rate variability between type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients and healthy volunteers. Materials and methods: This study was done at PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Peelamedu, Coimbatore, Tamilnadu on 30 Type 2 Diabetic patients (Cases) and 30 healthy volunteers (Controls) respectively. Average age of the Diabetic patients was 48.53 ± 5.12 (Mean ± SD) and that of volunteers was 47.10 ±3.59 (Mean ± SD). ECG recording was done in supine position by using computerized physiograph (NEVIQURE- Digital ECG recorder) in Lead 2 for a period of 5 minutes with the use of adhesion electrodes in both wrist and legs. HRV analysis was done using Finland software. Results: Statistical analysis done using independent Student’s ‘t’ test, showed a statistically significant alteration in heart rate variability between cases and controls. Time domain measures were mean RR (p<0.05), mean HR (p<0.05), SDNN (p<0.05), RMSSD (p < 0.05) and Frequency domain measures were LF% (p<0.05), HF% (p<0.05), LF/HF ratio (p<0.01). Conclusion: This study showed that there was a significant autonomic impairment present in type 2 Diabetes Mellitus patients when compared to healthy volunteers and a greater parasympathetic dysfunction compared to sympathetic dysfunction.