Adipokines and the cardiorespiratory system in young patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Early screening of complications of diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the priorities for public health. Most patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) are patients of working age. New strategies for the primary prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are needed to prevent their early disability.

Aim. To assess the predictive value of adipokines in relation to a personalized approach to the need for an in-depth examination of young patients with T1DM.

Materials and methods. The study included 98 patients without CVD: 70 patients with T1DM (mean age 26.4±8.1 years) and 28 patients without DM (mean age 27±9 years). All patients underwent a general clinical examination, the levels of adipokines were determined, ergospirometry, echocardiography, and bioimpedancemetry were performed.

Results. Changes in the cardiorespiratory system in patients with T1DM were revealed, in comparison with persons without T1DM: anaerobic threshold was reached faster (p=0.001), maximum oxygen consumption was lower (p=0.048), metabolic equivalent was reduced (p=0.0001). Signs of myocardial remodeling were found in the T1DM group: there was an increase in the relative wall thickness (p=0.001), the posterior wall of the left ventricle (p=0.001), myocardial mass index (p=0.049), in comparison with persons without T1DM. Changes in the adipokines system were revealed: higher levels of resistin (p=0.002) and visfatin (p=0.001), lower level of adiponectin (p=0.040) in T1DM. A positive correlation was found between posterior wall of the left ventricle and visfatin (p=0.014) and a negative relationship between adiponectin and relative wall thickness (p=0.018) in T1DM.

Conclusion. In T1DM, even at a young age, there are multifactorial changes in the heart, which can be detected even at the preclinical stage. The data obtained can be used to identify groups of patients at high risk of developing dangerous CVD in T1DM, which can form the basis for determining the timing of the start of preventive therapy.