Objective: New imaging techniques have permitted the detection of subclinical LV dysfunction (LVD) in up to half of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) with a normal EF. However, the connection between early LVD and prognosis is unclear. This study aimed to define the long-term outcome of LVD associated with type 2 DM.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, 230 asymptomatic patients with type 2 DM underwent measurement of global longitudinal 2D strain (GLS) for detection of LVD and were followed for up to 10 years. All subjects had normal EF (≥ 50%) and no evidence of coronary artery disease at recruitment. Outcome data were obtained through centralised state-wide death and hospital admission registries. The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality and hospitalisation.

Results: On study entry, almost half (45%) of the cohort had evidence of LVD as detected by GLS. Over a median follow-up of 7.4 ± 2.6 years (range 0.6-9.7 years), 68 patients (30%) met the primary endpoint (LVD: 37%; normal LV function: 24%). GLS was independently associated with the primary endpoint (HR = 1.10; p = 0.04), as was systolic blood pressure (HR = 1.02; p < 0.001) and levels of glycosylated haemoglobin (HR = 1.28; p = 0.011). Patients with LVD had significantly worse outcome than those without (χ²=4.73; p = 0.030).

Conclusions: Subclinical LVD is common in asymptomatic patients with type 2 DM, is readily detectable by GLS imaging and is independently associated with adverse outcome.