Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Glycated Hemoglobin Levels, and Cardiopulmonary Exercise Capacity in Patients With Ischemic Heart Disease

PURPOSE Diabetes mellitus (DM) is associated with long-term cardiovascular complications, including ischemic heart disease (IHD). Nonetheless, DM may directly impair myocardial and lung structure and function. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of type 2 DM (T2DM) and glycemic control on cardiopulmonary exercise capacity in patients with IHD. METHODS The study involved a cross-sectional analysis of 91 consecutive patients (57 ± 10 yr, 90% men) who underwent a cardiopulmonary exercise test at the beginning of an exercise-based standard phase-II cardiac rehabilitation program, 2 to 3 mo after an acute coronary syndrome. Association of T2DM with cardiopulmonary exercise test parameters was assessed using multiple linear regression analysis controlling for prespecified potential confounders. RESULTS There were 26 (29%) diabetic subjects among IHD patients included in the study. After adjustment, T2DM was an independent predictor of a reduced peak oxygen uptake ((Equation is included in full-text article.)O2peak) (P = .005), a reduced pulse O2 trajectory (P = .001), a steeper minute ventilation to carbon dioxide output (VE/(Equation is included in full-text article.)CO2) slope (P = .046), and an increased dead space-to-tidal volume ratio (VD/VT) at peak exercise (P = .049). Glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels were significantly associated with a reduced forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration (FEV1) (P = .013), VE (P = .001), and VT (P = .007). (Equation is included in full-text article.)O2peak (P trend < .001), (Equation is included in full-text article.)O2 at anaerobic threshold (P trend < .001), and pulse O2 trajectory (P trend < .001) decreased among HbA1c tertiles. CONCLUSIONS Patients with IHD and a previous diagnosis of T2DM had a reduced aerobic capacity and a ventilation- perfusion mismatch compared with nondiabetic patients. Poor glycemic control in men further deteriorates aerobic capacity probably due to ventilatory inefficiency.