Cardiac autonomic dysfunction in patients with diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Cardiac autonomic function was assessed by an on-line microcomputer technique in 67 patients with diabetic retinopathy. Sixteen patients had a resting tachycardia (92 beats/min or greater). R-R interval variations were abnormally low in 29 patients at rest, in 35 during deep breathing and in four in response to a Valsalva manoeuvre. The severity of retinopathy correlated significantly with the degree of autonomic dysfunction assessed by the interval variations at rest (p < 0.05), during deep breathing (p < 0.01), and with the Valsalva manoeuvre (p < 0.01). The results emphasise the important association between diabetic retinopathy and cardiac autonomic dysfunction. © 1981 Springer-Verlag.