Cardiac effects of sulfonylurea-related hypoglycemia

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of sulfonylurea-related hypoglycemia on cardiac repolarization and ectopy in the setting of well-controlled type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Thirty subjects with sulfonylurea-treated type 2 diabetes underwent 48 h of concurrent continuous glucose monitoring and ambulatory electrocardiography. Ventricular repolarization (QTc) and QT dynamicity were analyzed during periods of hypoglycemia (<3.5 mmol/L for >20 min) and compared with periods of euglycemia and hyperglycemia combined. Cardiac ectopy rates during hypoglycemia were compared with ectopy rates when blood glucose was 4-10 mmol/L. RESULTS: Mean HbA1c was 6.9%(52mmol/mol). Hypoglycemiawas detected in 9 of 30 subjects (30%); episodes were typically nocturnal (67%) and asymptomatic (73%). Hypoglycemiaassociated QTc prolongation was seen in five of nine subjects with a large variation in individual response. Higher QT dynamicity, a poor prognostic factor in cardiac disease, was seen in subjects who experienced hypoglycemia compared with subjects who did not (0.193 vs. 0.159 for the nocturnal period; P = 0.01). This finding persisted after the hypoglycemic event. The rates of ventricular and supraventricular ectopy demonstrated a nonsignificant trend toward an increase during hypoglycemia (median rate ratio 1.58 and 1.33, respectively). Similar, nonsignificant resultswere observed in a separate insulin-treated cohort. CONCLUSIONS: Hypoglycemia, often unrecognized, is a frequent finding inwell-controlled sulfonylureatreated type 2 diabetes. It is associated with the novel finding of increased QT dynamicity and QTc prolongation in some individuals. Our findings suggest sulfonylurea-related hypoglycemia can have detrimental cardiovascular sequelae. Similar effects are also seen in the setting of insulin therapy.