BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to assess stressechocardiography (SE) for risk stratification of asymptomatic type 2 diabetic patients (DM2) without known coronary artery disease CAD. METHODS: A total of 211 consecutive, asymptomatic DM2 patients underwent exercise (n=177) or dobutamine (n=34) SE and were followed up for 11+/-2 months. Primary endpoint was a major cardiac or vascular event (MACCE; all-cause-death, non-fatal myocardial infarction, coronary revascularization procedures, cerebrovascular event, acute limb-ischemia). RESULTS: During follow-up 39 of these patients suffered a MACCE. SE correctly identified 33 of these 39 patients by demonstrating silent ischemia in advance. In a multivariate logistic regression analysis a positive SE turned out to be an independent predictor for the occurrence of a MACCE during 11+/-2 months. CONCLUSIONS: SE represents an effective tool for risk stratification of asymptomatic DM2 patients.
