Screening ST segments in patients with cardiac autonomic neuropathy

Given the elevated risk of cardiovascular events and the higher prevalence of silent ischaemia in diabetic patients, it is important to screen those patients for cardiac autonomic neuropathy (CAN). Early detection of CAN in diabetic patients, and hence timely intervention, are of critical importance towards preventing sudden cardiac death. The aim of this study is to assess whether myocardial ischaemia is common in diabetic patients with CAN by screening the ST heights of ECG signals. ST depression indicates myocardial ischaemia. The heights of ST segments of ECG signals (lead II) of 10 subjects without CAN (CAN-) [age: 61±16 years (4 males and 6 females)] and 10 subjects with CAN (CAN+) [age: 64±11 years (4 males and 6 females)] were extracted in LabChart. Episodes of ST segment depression were seen in 6 CAN+ patients (60%) but were not more common in CAN- patients. The ST heights of CAN+ group (-0.0116±0.04 mV) were found to be significantly (p=0.02) lower than that of CAN- group (0.07±0.13 mV).