Early detection of coronary artery disease in asymptomatic type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

Background: Type II Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a major risk factor for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). Patients remain mostly asymptomatic and thus diagnosed at an advance stage of the disease. Our aim of study was to detect the CAD at an early stage in asymptomatic diabetic patients. Methods: 136 asymptomatic type II diabetes mellitus patients were enrolled prospectively for treadmill test (TMT) and subsequent coronary angiography (CAG) was performed on 96 (70.87%) TMT positive patients. Diabetic status, clinical parameters including risk factors, TMT and angiographic findings were analyzed. Results: The patients were divided into two groups, high rich group A (risk factor > 2) and low risk group B (risk factor > 1). 34 patients of group A (36.95%) were CAD positive out of 92 patients of high risk group and 4 patients group B (9.09%) out of 44 patients of low rich group. Duration of diabetes mellitus and multiple risk factors were correlated with coronary artery disease (CAD) as well as multiple coronary artery involvement. Conclusions: A routine TMT of all long standing asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients ( > 10 years) with family history of CAD and subsequent  CAG should be done on all TMT positive patients for early detection of CAD to take early appropriate revascularization measure.