Heart rate variability analysis between premenopausal and postmenopausal known diabetics — A comparative study

Back ground: diabetes mellitus mainly type ii is due to resistance to insulin action, the hyperglycemia casued by diabetes lead to micro and macrovascular complication that endangers with life, premenopausal women with diabetes had the risk similar to that of men with diabetes, postmenopausal diabetic women had additional risk due to reduced estrogen hormone deficiency, aim and objective: to compare the heart rate variability between premenopausal and postmenopausal known diabetic females using frequency domain analysis. materials & methods: 60 type ii diabetic females around the age of 40-65yrs (both pre and postmenopausal) from diabetic opd were recruited from Stanley medical college hospital, institutional ethical committee approval was obtained, after obtaining written and informed consent from the subjects. ecg(leadii)was recorded for five mintues in supine position using rms digital polyrite. hrv analysis was done using frequency domain methods using rms digital polyrite software version 2.1. results: our study indicates that there is a lower hrv in postmenopausal known diabetic females when compared to that of premenopausal knowndiabetics. further, decline in estrogen level and diabetes gives a additional risk of increased sympathovagal balance in postmenopausal diabetic women. conclusion: type ii postmenopausal diabetic females have increased level of autonomie dysfunction. Hence they require hormonal replacement therapy, regular periodic evaluation of cardiac autonomie status in order to prevent future cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.