A recent study in Journal of Diabetes and Its Complications reported that health status is generally compromised in individuals with Stage B heart failure due to diabetic cardiomyopathy. The study aimed to assess the factors that affect health status and to determine their correlation with parameters in patients with diabetic cardiomyopathy (DbCM).

The study included 691 individuals with DbCM. Researchers assessed cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire (KCCQ), laboratory assessments, echocardiography, and the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE) score at baseline for each patient.

Results revealed that most of the participants with lower KCCQ-Clinical Summary Scores were women. They also had a higher body mass index, lower hemoglobin levels, increased levels of natriuretic peptide, and poor kidney function. Lower KCCQ-CSS scores were associated with lower PASE scores, lower peak exercise oxygen consumption (VO₂), and shorter CPET duration. Although there was an association between worse health status and poor activity, the degree of correlation was low. KCCQ-CSS found no significant association with cardiac biomarkers, kidney function, and echocardiographic measurements.