Can myocardial performance index predict the presence of silent ischemia in asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients?

Background: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetes. Silent myocardial ischemia (SMI) is common in patients with diabetes and is associated with poorer prognosis. Myocardial performance index "Tei index" that reflects both left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function. The aim of our study was to test the value of Tei index in prediction of SMI in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes. Patients and Methods: Asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes were included in our study. We excluded patients with known CAD, previous revascularization, low ejection fraction, or abnormal ECG from the study. All patients had undergone history taking and clinical examination, ECG, echocardiography with measuring of Tei index and Holter monitoring for detecting silent ischemia. Results: A total of 200 patients were recruited. We divided our patients into two groups: Group I: 64 patients with SMI, Group II: 136 patients without SMI. There was no significant difference between the two groups regarding clinical and conventional echocardiographic data. Tei index was significantly higher in patients with silent ischemia (P<. 00001). Sensitivity, specificity, positive, and negative predictive values of Tei index >= 0.6 in prediction of Holter detected silent ischemia were 85.9%, 90%, 78.6%, and 88.6%, respectively. We found a significant positive correlation between Tei index and number of ischemic episodes (r=. 366, P=. 0029). Conclusion: Measuring Tei index is helpful in predicting the presence of silent ischemia in asymptomatic patients with type 2 diabetes.