Patients with diabetes experience peripheral paresthesias and cardiac autonomic neuropathy that may affect the way they perceive the symptoms of unstable angina (UA). The purpose of this study was to examine differences in symptoms for patients with and without diabetes during an episode of UA. Structured instruments were used to identify the type, location, and quality of the symptoms of UA. A convenience sample of 50 women and 50 men, hospitalized with UA, were recruited. Patients with diabetes were more likely to have a history of hypercholesterolemia (83% vs. 60%; p=0.02), prior history of heart disease (85% vs. 65%; p=0.03), and prior angiogram (85% vs. 67%; p=0.04) compared to those patients without diabetes. Patients with diabetes reported nausea less often (20% vs. 40%, p=0.04) and hyperventilation more often (27.5% vs. 11.7%, p=0.04). Patients with diabetes also experienced less squeezing (25% vs. 48%; p=0.02) and less aching (25% vs. 45%; p=0.04) type pain. Although cardiac autonomic neuropathy may be a reason why some patients with diabetes report different cardiac symptoms compared to patients without diabetes, our findings suggest that patients with diabetes experience cardiac symptoms similar to patients without diabetes.
Session #1077 - Acute Care Research: Impacting Patient Care Outcomes
The 29th Annual MNRS Research Conference (April 1-4, 2005)