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Cardiovascular Diabetology
Published in: Cardiovascular Diabetology 1/2015

Open Access 01-12-2015 | Original investigation

The association between glycemic variability and diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes

Authors: Ji Eun Jun, Sang-Man Jin, Jongha Baek, Sewon Oh, Kyu Yeon Hur, Myung-Shik Lee, Moon-Kyu Lee, Jae Hyeon Kim

Published in: Cardiovascular Diabetology | Issue 1/2015

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Abstract

Background

It is presently unclear whether glycemic variability is associated with diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN). The aim of this study was to examine whether short- and/or long-term glycemic variability (GV) contribute to CAN.

Methods

A total of 110 patients with type 2 diabetes who underwent three-day continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) completed five standardized autonomic neuropathy tests. Short-term GV was measured by the standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV) of glucose, and the mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE) in CGM. HbA1c variability was calculated from the intrapersonal SD, adjusted SD, and CV of serial HbA1c over 2-year period. CAN was defined as the presence of at least two abnormal parasympathetic function tests. The severity of CAN was evaluated by total scores of five autonomic function tests.

Results

In univariate analysis, not only SD and CV in CGM but also all parameters of HbA1c variability were significantly higher in the patients with CAN (n = 47, 42.7 %) than in those without CAN. In multivariate analysis, CV (Odds ratio [OR] 1.07, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.01–1.13; p = 0.033), but neither SD nor MAGE in CGM, independently correlated with the presence of CAN. All parameters of HbA1c variability, such as SD of HbA1c (OR 12.10 [95 % CI 2.29–63.94], p = 0.003), adjusted SD of HbA1c (OR 17.02 [95 % CI 2.66–108.86], p = 0.003), and log CV of HbA1c (OR 24.00 [95 % CI 3.09–186.48], p = 0.002), were significantly associated with the presence of CAN. The patients with higher HbA1c variability had an increased risk of advanced CAN.

Conclusion

CV in CGM and all parameters of HbA1c variability were independently associated with the presence of CAN in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes requiring CGM.
Appendix
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Metadata
Title
The association between glycemic variability and diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors
Ji Eun Jun
Sang-Man Jin
Jongha Baek
Sewon Oh
Kyu Yeon Hur
Myung-Shik Lee
Moon-Kyu Lee
Jae Hyeon Kim
Publication date
01-12-2015
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Cardiovascular Diabetology / Issue 1/2015
Electronic ISSN: 1475-2840
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12933-015-0233-0

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