Early diagnosis and prediction of complications in chronic diseases of modern societies (diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease) is an unmet need that results into escalation of healthcare costs and suffering.
India is in the throes of a Chronic ailment pandemic: Diabetes, Hypertension, Dyslipidemia, Obesity which are all interlinked and progress to Cardiovascular Disease that has become the main contributor to morbidity and mortality*. Latest medical research has established the role of Cardiac Autonomic Neuropathy (CAN) in this progression.
CAN affects up to 60% type 2 diabetes patients after 15 years. Even young people with type 1 and 2 diabetes are affected, especially women and those with elevated A1C levels. CAN is also present in patients with impaired GTT, insulin resistance, or metabolic syndrome.**
An advanced non-invasive medical technology called HRV (Heart Rate Variability), which is based on mathematical analysis of ECG time series sampled at high rate of 1000 samples/second is a very sensitive method of early diagnosis of autonomic neuropathy. In early stages, CAN may be completely asymptomatic and detected only by reduced heart rate variability – the Cardiac Autonomic Reflex Test (CART).**
Screening for diabetic neuropathy is critical in routine clinical practice, as it may detect the earliest stages of neuropathy, enabling early intervention, reduction of risk, and improvement of quality of life of your patients.
*FICCI (Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry) 7th Annual Health Insurance Conference: Leapfrogging beyond Hospitalization, December 2104.
**American Diabetes Association Position Statement Diabetes Care 2017;40:136–154.