"Natural“ history of diabetic cardiomyopathy. A longitudinal prospective observational study on progression of cardiac remodeling in type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Background and Objectives Cardiac remodeling may occur in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), also independently of ischemic heart disease, hypertension or other macrovascular complications. This condition called diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) and the resulting heart failure represent mortality risks in T2DM. We aim to characterize the unknown “natural” progression of cardiac remodeling of DCM. Methods and Results In a longitudinal prospective observational study we evaluated 4-years later the same cohort of our previous study (CECSID: NCT00692237). 34/59 male patients (64.6 ± 8.15 years) agreed to participate. Baseline characteristics are diagnosis of T2DM and DCM [defined through Cardiac Magnetic Resonance-tagged imaging: increased torsion angle (T°), reduced circumferential strain (%), increased Left Ventricular Mass (LVMi), low-normal End Diastolic Volume index (EDVi), increased concentricity index (LVM/EDV), normal output]. We measured: -cardiac kinetic parameters:  % significant