Effect of Telmisartan on Heart Rate Variability in Patients with Heart Failure Complicating Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

OBJECTIVE:To study the characteristics of the 24-hour heart rate variability(HRV) in patients with heart failure(HF) complicating 2 type diabetic(T2DM) and the effect of telmisartan on the HRV.METHODS: Firstly,the HRV index was compared between 67 patients with HF of different degree complicating T2DM and 70 healthy adults;secondly,the 67 patients with HF of different degree complicating T2DM were randomly divided into 2 groups,i.e.telmisartan group(n = 34) and routine therapy group(n = 33).The course of treatment was 16 weeks.The 24-hour HRV and left ventricle function of both groups were measured before and after the treatment.RESULTS: HRV indexes in the former(HF and T2DM patients) were significantly lower than in the latter(healthy adults)(P 0.01),suggesting small HRV and disappearance of HRV circadian rhythm.Telmisartan group showed significant improvement in 24-hour HRV and left ventricle systolic function after treatment(P 0.01,P 0.05),showing better improvement in SDNN,SDANN and SDNN indexes of HRV than in the routine therapy group(P 0.05).CONCLUSION: For patients with HF complicating T2DM patients,there is significant reduction in HRV and Telmisartan has beneficial effect on the autonomic nervous system and left ventricle systolic function of the heart in these patients.