Diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in children

Diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) encompasses damage to the autonomic nerve fibers innervating the heart and blood vessels, resulting in abnormalities in heart rate control and vascular dynamics. Clinical symptoms associated with CAN include resting tachycardia, postural hypotension, dizziness, syncope, exercise intolerance, silent myocardial infarction. The earliest finding of CAN, even at the subclinical stage, is a decrease in heart rate variability (HRV) Purpose To study CAN prevalence and understand the diagnostic capabilities of HRV - tests of diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in children with type 1 diabetes. Methods 100 children with type 1 diabetes were assessed for CAN (age 15.2 yrs [9.0–17.8], duration 6.5 yrs [4.0–10.6], HbA1c 8.1% 6.3–9.7]). The degree of compensation of diabetes was estimated according to criteria ISPAD Consensus Guidelines, 2018. Optimal level (HbA1c <7.0%) of compensation was revealed in 62% of children (group I) and nonoptimal in 38% of children (group II). For evaluation of the CAN we used HRV - tests: RR 30:15 ratio, ΔRR quiet breath, ΔRR deep breath, BP response to standing. Results Diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy was diagnosed in 41 children: in group I – in 6 (29%) and in group II – 35 (71%) children (p=0.00001). The prevalence of DCN correlated with HbA1c level in children and adolescents (groups I and II): ΔRR quiet breath r=−0.47 & r=−0.9; ΔRR deep breath r=−0.65 & r=−0.85; RR30:15 r=−0.77 & r=−0.88 respectively. Prevalence of CAN increased parallel to type 1 diabetes duration (p<0.01). Conclusions Diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in children with type 1 diabetes was diagnosed in 41%. Prevalence of diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy increases parallel to type 1 diabetes duration (p<0.01). In this study we found an association between HRV indexes and HbA1c level. This provides support for HRV - testing to assess diabetic cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy in children. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None