Prevalence and Correlation of Cardiomyopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients in South Rajasthan: A Prospective Observational Study

Background Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Among its cardiovascular complications, diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a distinct myocardial dysfunction occurring in diabetic patients without underlying coronary artery disease or hypertension. It manifests initially as diastolic dysfunction and progresses to heart failure if left undiagnosed and untreated. However, its early-stage detection remains a challenge due to the asymptomatic nature of the disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of DCM in Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients and evaluate its correlation with diabetes duration, lipid profile, and body mass index (BMI) in a tertiary care hospital in Rajasthan, India. Methods A prospective observational study was conducted at Maharana Bhupal Government Hospital, Udaipur, affiliated with R.N.T. Medical College, Rajasthan, involving 75 T2DM patients who underwent echocardiographic evaluation. Inclusion criteria included diagnosed cases of T2DM per ADA (2014) guidelines. Patients with ischemic heart disease, hypertension, and valvular heart disease were excluded. Echocardiography, lipid profile, HbA1c, and BMI were analyzed to assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with DCM. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v26.0, and results were interpreted using chi-square and t-tests. Conclusion The prevalence of DCM was 60%, with diastolic dysfunction as the predominant finding (75.5%). Significant associations were observed with higher BMI (p < 0.0001), HbA1c levels (p < 0.0001), and dyslipidemia (p < 0.05). The findings suggest that routine echocardiographic screening in asymptomatic diabetic patients is essential to identify and manage DCM early, preventing progression to heart failure and reducing mortality.