Exercise Electrocardiogram Testing in Asymptomatic Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Left Ventricle Diastolic Dysfunction

Epidemiological data indicate a greater risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, particularly congestive cardiac failure, in diabetic subjects as compared with those without diabetes (Kannel et al., 1979). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus in heart failure population is close to 20% as compared with 4 to 6% in control populations (Bauters et al., 2003). Diabetic cardiomyopathy was first described in 1972 by Rubler et al. on the basis of post mortem findings and the diastolic dysfunction lies independent of ischemic, valvular, congenital, hypertensive or alcohol related heart disease (Rubler S et al., 1972).