Prognostic value of Tc-99m tetrofosmin myocardial perfusion gated SPECT in patients with diabetes mellitus and suspected coronary artery disease

The cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death among diabetic patients, which makes it crucial to identify the individuals at higher risk of cardiovascular events. To evaluate the prognostic value of scintigraphy with gated single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and suspected coronary artery disease. Retrospective study with 232 diabetic patients submitted to scintigraphy with gated SPECT. Perfusion Gated SPECT (scores and number of altered segments) as well as ventricular function parameters (ejection fraction, left ventricle (LV) volume and contractility) were evaluated. Cardiac death, acute ischemic coronary syndrome, revascularization procedures or encephalic vascular accident were considered future cardiovascular events. The uni- and multivariate analyses were carried out by the multiple logistic regression model (p< 0.05). At the univariate analysis, age (p=0.02), chest angina (p=0.01), insulin therapy (p=0.02), myocardial perfusion abnormalities (p 3 (p=0.0001) were predictors of cardiovascular events. The myocardial scintigraphy with gated SPECT adds independent information to the stratification of the risk of future cardiovascular events in patients with DM and suspected coronary artery disease.