Relationship between age and autonomic neuropathy in diabetes mellitus.
The influence of age on diabetic autonomic neuropathy was studied. In the present study autonomic neuropathy was assessed by cardiac beat-to-beat variation during deep breathing (BBV) and pupil area prior to photic stimulus (A1). In the studies on BBV a total of 440 subjects (11-82 years in age) were divided into three groups: those with a duration of diabetes of less than 5 years and without obvious diabetic complications; those with a duration of diabetes of longer than 5 years and with diabetic complications; and non-diabetic, healthy subjects. The relationship between BBV and age was examined in each group. In the studies on A1 a total of 101 subjects (22-75 years in age) were investigated in the same way. The results were as follows: (1) The autonomic nerve function of young diabetics corresponds to that of old non-diabetics in terms of cardiac beat-to-beat variation and pupil area prior to photic stimulus; (2) in young diabetics duration of diabetes and the complications influence the autonomic nerve function; (3) autonomic nerve function is related to age. Age is more influential than duration of diabetes and diabetic complications, especially in the older subjects.
Kuroda
N
N
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
Taniguchi
H
H
Baba
S
S
Yamamoto
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D012016:Reference Values; D012025:Reflex, Pupillary; D012119:Respiration