It has been shown that the dysfunction of autonomic heart regulation is correlated with poor prognosis in insulin dependent diabetic patients. The aim of our study was to evaluate the cardiac autonomic function in insulin dependent diabetic patients (IDDM) using power spectral analysis of R-R variability. We studied 44 patients (23 women and 21 men) aged 22-50 years (x=36 yrs.) with mean duration of diabetes 18 yrs., in the stage of metabolic stabilisation (group I). Diabetic neuropathy was diagnosed in 18 patients. The control group (group II) consisted of 19 healthy volunteers aged 18-50 years (x=36yrs.). The persons with cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and neuropathies of other than diabetic origin were excluded. In all 63 studied subjects 24-hour ECG Holter monitoring was performed with 5 min. registration in standing position (orthostatic test). Our results showed that in lying position mean values of R-R interval and SDNN value were significantly decreased in group I in comparison to group II (939±19 vs. 1045±29 ms, p.

Keywords: autonomic neuropathy, insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), heart rate variability, power spectral analysis, orthostatic test