Is There Coincidence between Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Silent Myocardial Ischemia?

The aim of the study was to estimate the rate of coincidence of silent myocardial ischemia episodes with impaired glucose tolerance in patients treated at Outpatient Cardiology Clinic. The study included 93 patients divided into two groups according to the glucose tolerance test results. Study group included 48 subjects with impaired glucose tolerance, while the remaining 45 patients served as a control group. Besides oral glucose tolerance test, anthropometric and clinical characteristics and biochemical analyses were recorded in all study subjects. The patients underwent clinical examination, blood pressure measurement and twelve-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) at rest. Silent myocardial ischemia episodes were recorded during exercise test and Holter 24-h ECG. The mean glucose concentration in venous blood showed significant between-group difference (p<0.001). Holter ECG recording indicated ten (20.8%) study group patients and three (6.6%) control group patients to have developed episodes of silent myocardial ischemia. The number and duration of silent myocardial ischemia episodes were significantly greater in the study group. Silent myocardial ischemia episodes occurred significantly more often among patients with impaired glucose tolerance in comparison with those with normal glucose tolerance.