Evaluation of systolic and diastolic functions with aortic elasticty in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the chronic diseases frequently seen in children. In this study, we aimed to evaluate cardiac functions and aortic elasticity in the children followed for at least 4 years due to type 1 DM in the clinic of Pediatric Endocrinology, in Gaziantep University, Faculty of Medicine. We made the measurements with Vivid E9 XD Clear echocardiography in pediatric cardiology echocardiography laboratory. A total of 31 patients, 17 (54,8 %) of them being female and 14 (45,2 %) of them being male, were included in our study. Their age average is detected as 11,25years. Control group was composed of a total of 19 healthy volunteers, 8 (42,1 %) of them being females and 11 (57,9 %) of them being males. Their age average is detected as 10,9years. There was not any statistically significant difference between the patients and the control group regarding the anthropometric measurements (p>0.05). There was not any statistically difference between the patients and the control group regarding aortic elasticity, Tei index, diastolic dysfunction (p>0.05). Aortic strain value was significantly lower in the patient group (p<0.05). The patients were divided into two groups according to the duration of diabetes and HbA1c levels in order to examine the effect of the duration of diabetes and glycemic control. There was not any statistical difference between these groups (p>0.05). The study group was divided into two as females and males in order to examine the effect of sex on cardiac functions. There was not any statistically difference between the sick females and males (p>0.05). When the sick males and healthy males were compared, aortic strain and aortic elasticity values were significantly lower in sick males (p<0.05). In conclusion, there was not statistically significant difference in terms of aortic elasticity and cardiac functions but aortic strain was significantly lower in our study. It is observed that it was more apparent in the sick males compared to healthy males.There is a need for the studies in which long-term HbA1c follow-up is made in children and adolescent patients, ventricular functions are evaluated in certain time intervals and number of patients is high. Key words: Diabetes mellitus, aortic strain, aortic elasticity, diastolic dysfunction, Tei index