Association between coefficients of variation of the R-R intervals on electrocardiograms and post-challenge hyperglycemia in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

The aim of the present study was to examine whether there is a relationship between autonomic function and post-challenge hyperglycemia in patients with type 2 diabetes. Subjects included 122 Japanese patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Autonomic nerve function was assessed using coefficients of variation of the R-R intervals on electrocardiograms (CVRR). Unlike anthropometry, insulin secretion and insulin resistance, age (r = -0.209, P < 0.021) and post-challenge plasma glucose at 120 min (PG120; r = -0.219, P < 0.015) were the only variables significantly correlated with CVRR. Age was not significantly correlated with PG120. In multiple regression analyses, CVRR Z-score, but not age, was significantly correlated with PG120. The present results suggest that autonomic function affects post-challenge blood glucose levels independently of age. (J Diabetes Invest,doi: 10.1111/j.2040-1124.2010.00098.x, 2011).