Respiratory function evolution in a duration of four years in patients with diabetes mellitus

Abstract EN

Objective : To search the effect of diabetic duration on the evolution of respiratory function parameters.

Material and Methods : 19 subjects with diabetes mellitus aged 36, 79 + 2, 15 years, 8 male and 11 female, 9 with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 10 with type 1.

Patients were characterised by body mass index (BMI) of 25,79 + 0,75 kg / m2, fasting glucose of 10,97 + 0,71 mmol/l, HbA1C of 9,09 + 0,49 %, and diabetic duration under 10 years in 10 subjects (G1) and upper or equal to 10 years in 9 subjects (G2).

A measure of ventilatory flows, pulmonary volumes and alveolo-capillary diffusion capacity of CO (DLCO) was realised twice at an interval of four years.

Results : The initial exploration had shown a restrictive pulmonary tendency (total lung capacity TLC % th = 87, 47 + 2, 23) without alteration of DLCO reported to alveolar volume (DLCO / VA % th = 113,53 + 5,65).

After four years, we had found a significant reduction of functional residual capacity in G2 (FRC % th : 106,44 vs 86,11 ; p < 0,05) with a slight decrease of residual volume (RV % th : 93,78 vs 80,89) without modification of the other parameters for both groups.

The fasting glucose and HbA1C % values were also comparables.

Conclusion : This study found that pulmonary volumes impairment are more marked with diabetic duration especially after 10 years.

An other measurement after some years will be necessary in order to evaluate the evolution kinetic of different parameters of respiratory function.