January 10, 2024

Anginal Symptoms Do Not Predict Myocardial Ischemia in Diabetics

A 2005 study examined whether anginal symptoms can predict abnormal myocardial perfusion or function in diabetic patients. Among all patients, anginal symptoms were associated with myocardial ischemia and dysfunction. However, in diabetic patients, the presence of anginal chest pain did not correlate with myocardial perfusion defects or impaired left ventricular ejection fraction. Diabetic neuropathy likely masks ischemic symptoms in this population. Therefore, relying solely on symptomatology to determine which diabetics warrant workup for coronary artery disease appears unreliable.

Citation: Heston, Thomas F. (2005). Anginal symptoms are not predictive of myocardial perfusion in diabetics. Journal of Nuclear Cardiology, 12(4), S108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nuclcard.2005.06.028