Signal-Averaging Electrocardiogram in Patients with Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

In order to detect silent impairment of the heart due to diabetes mellitus, the signal-averaging electrocardiograms (ECG) of 21 healthy subjects and 22 diabetic patients without ventricular tachycardia were compared. The QRS duration in the signal-averaging ECG was longer in diabetic patients than in the normal subjects (87.3ms vs. 114.5ms, p<0.01). Moreover, late potentials in the terminal portion of the QRS complex were observed in 7 diabetic patients (32%), but in only one normal subject (5%, p<0.01). These findings suggested that patients with diabetes mellitus frequently have intraventricular conduction disturbances, presumably due to diabetic microangiopathy.