BACKGROUND: Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in diabetic patients, little is known about the impact of glycemic control on ventricular tachycardia (VT). OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is associated with increased incidence of VT. METHODS: A retrospective study of 336 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients (both diabetes mellitus (DM) and non-DM) was conducted. RESULTS: HbA1c levels between 8% and 10% had a significant association with spontaneous VT, but not with QT/QTc. CONCLUSIONS: Glycemic index is a significant predictor of spontaneous VT, independently of QT interval. Optimal glycemic control may help reduce occurrence of VT and sudden cardiac death in high-risk DM patients.
BACKGROUND: Although cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality in diabeticpatients, little is known about the impact of glycemic control on ventricular tachycardia (VT). OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is associated with increased incidence of VT. METHODS: A retrospective study of 336 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients (both diabetes mellitus (DM) and non-DM) was conducted. RESULTS: HbA1c levels between 8% and 10% had a significant association with spontaneous VT, but not with QT/QTc. CONCLUSIONS: Glycemic index is a significant predictor of spontaneous VT, independently of QT interval. Optimal glycemic control may help reduce occurrence of VT and sudden cardiac death in high-risk DMpatients.