Dafalla Khalid A, Alawad Azza O, Merghani Tarig Hakim, Ahmed Fathelrahman M, Ebraheem Ahmed Alsiddig
Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Gezira, Wad Madani, UAE.
Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Al-Neelain, Khartoum, Sudan, UAE.
Ann Afr Med. 2025 Apr 1;24(2):356-360. doi: 10.4103/aam.aam_202_24. Epub 2025 Mar 7.
Autonomic nervous system (ANS) dysfunction is a common complication in patients with diabetes mellitus, potentially affecting the various organ systems leading to significant morbidity. This study aimed to evaluate ANS dysfunction in diabetic patients attending Wad Madani Teaching Hospital, Sudan.
A cross-sectional and hospital-based study was conducted on a sample of 100 patients in Wad Madani Teaching Hospital in Sudan. For each participant, a data collection form was utilized to record the sociodemographic details, previous medical history, and patient assessment results including heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), weight, and height. Patients were assessed for the signs of autonomic dysfunction using the clinical examinations and standardized autonomic function tests. HR variability (HRV), BP response to standing, and deep breathing tests were the primary methods used to assess ANS function. The results were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 26. 0.
The mean age of the participants was 63.4 ± 9.9 years, with males comprising 75% of the sample. Of the participants, 48% were overweight and 22% were obese, with 77% demonstrating poor glycemic control (hemoglobin A1c ≥ 7.0%). Only 11% of participants had normal HRV during deep breathing, while 56% showed abnormal values. For the HR response to standing, 27% of participants had abnormal results. Regarding BP response to standing, 19% had abnormal readings. Autonomic dysfunction was prevalent, with 89% of participants exhibiting some degree of dysfunction, including early parasympathetic (16%) and combined parasympathetic and sympathetic dysfunction (19%).
Autonomic dysfunction is highly prevalent among diabetic patients in Wad Madani, with most exhibiting parasympathetic and sympathetic dysfunctions. This underscores the need for the early diagnosis and management of autonomic complications in diabetic patients to improve the outcomes and quality of life.
自主神经系统（ANS）功能障碍是糖尿病患者常见的并发症，可能影响各个器官系统，导致严重的发病率。本研究旨在评估苏丹瓦德迈达尼教学医院糖尿病患者的自主神经系统功能障碍。
在苏丹瓦德迈达尼教学医院对100名患者进行了一项横断面的基于医院的研究。对于每位参与者，使用数据收集表记录社会人口学细节、既往病史以及患者评估结果，包括心率（HR）、血压（BP）、体重和身高。通过临床检查和标准化自主神经功能测试评估患者的自主神经功能障碍体征。心率变异性（HRV）、站立时血压反应和深呼吸测试是评估自主神经系统功能的主要方法。使用社会科学统计软件包（SPSS）26.0版对结果进行分析。
参与者的平均年龄为63.4±9.9岁，男性占样本的75%。在参与者中，48%超重，22%肥胖，77%血糖控制不佳（糖化血红蛋白≥7.0%）。只有11%的参与者在深呼吸时心率变异性正常，而56%的值异常。对于站立时的心率反应，27%的参与者结果异常。关于站立时的血压反应，19%的读数异常。自主神经功能障碍很普遍，89%的参与者表现出某种程度的功能障碍，包括早期副交感神经功能障碍（16%）和副交感神经与交感神经联合功能障碍（19%）。
自主神经功能障碍在瓦德迈达尼的糖尿病患者中非常普遍，大多数表现为副交感神经和交感神经功能障碍。这突出了对糖尿病患者自主神经并发症进行早期诊断和管理以改善预后和生活质量的必要性。
