Clinical Study Of Heart Rate Turbulence In Elderly Patients With Essential Hypertention Accompanied With Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: To investigate the variations and clinical implications of heart rate turbulence(HRT) parameters among elderly patients with essential hypertension accompanied with diabetes mellitus.Methods: Turbulence timing(TT), turbulence onset(TO), turbulence slope(TS), turbulence dynamics(TD) and the standard deviation of the NN intervals(SDNN) were measured by the Impresario software using 24-hour dynamic electrocardiogram records and compared among 33 elderly patients with essential hypertension accompanied with diabetes mellitus(A group), 41 elderly patients with essential hypertension(B group), 40 elderly healthy controls (C group) and 39 youth healthy controls(D group). Correlations of TT, T0, TS and TD with age, mean heart rate and SDNN were analyzed.Results: Elderly healthy controls showed significantly higher TO,TT(all P <0.01), 1ower TS, TD and SDNN (P <0.05-0.01)as compared with youth healthy controls. Patients with essential hypertension accompanied with diabetes mellitus and essential hypertension showed significantly higher TO (all P<0.05), 1ower TS, TD and SDNN as compared with controls (all P<0.05). Patients with essential hypertension accompanied with diabetes mellitus showed significantly higher TO (P<0.05), 1ower TS, TD and SDNN as compared with essential hypertension (all P<0.05). There were significant correlations between TO and age, TO and TS, TO and TD, TO and SDNN, TS and TD, TS and SDNN, TD and mean heart rate, TD and SDNN(P<0.05-0.01).Conclusion:HRT appeared significantly blunted among patients with essential hypertension accompanied with diabetes mellitus, suggesting evidenced damage to autonomic nerve function in this condition.