Diabetic cardiomyopathy: factual or factoid?

SUMMARY

Although long ago described, there is no established consensus regarding the real existence of Diabetic Cardiomyopathy (CMPDM). Due to its complex pathophysiology, it has been difficult for clinical and experimental research to establish clear connections between diabetes mellitus (DM) and heart failure (HF), as well as to solve the mechanisms of the underlying myocardial disease. However, the epidemiological evidence of the relationship of these conditions is undisputed. The interest in understanding this disease has intensified due to the recent results of clinical trials evaluating new glucose-lowering drugs, such as sodium-glucose transporter inhibitors 2, which demonstrated favorable responses considering the prevention and treatment of HF in patients with DM. In this review we cover aspects of the epidemiology of CMPDM and its possible pathogenic mechanisms, as well as, present the main cardiac phenotypes of CMPDM (HF with preserved and reduced ejection fraction) and implications of the therapeutic management of this disease.

Diabetes mellitus; Cardiomyopathies; Hypoglycemic agents; Heart failure