Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2012 Jun;6(2):127-34.
doi: 10.12816/0005988.

Comparison of different screening tests for diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in Primary Health Care setting

Metab Al-Geffari  1
Affiliations

Comparison of different screening tests for diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy in Primary Health Care setting

Metab Al-Geffari. Int J Health Sci (Qassim). 2012 Jun.

Abstract

Background: DPN is an important complication and contributes to the morbidity of diabetes mellitus. Evidence indicates early detection of DPN results in fewer foot ulcers and amputations.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to compare different screening tests in the detection of DPN in primary care setting.

Methodology: It is a cross-sectional study in a random sample (N = 242) of type 2 diabetes mellitus participants at primary care setting. Different screening tests for detecting DPN such as Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI), Semmes-Weinstein Monofilament (SWM), vibration sensation and ankle reflex were performed for each patient and compare between them.

Results: 45% of the participant had DPN based on MNSI, The detection rate using the 128-Hz tuning fork and 10-g SWM was nearly same (32.6 & 31.4%) respectively and significantly higher than ankle reflexes (23.1%). Although, the prevalence of DPN determined by the combined two tests (38.79%) was higher than that through the single test.

Conclusion: this study showed different results of DPN screening tests, even in the same group of patients. However there was a significant correlation between them. 128-Hz tuning fork and 10-g SWM monofilament would appear to be an appropriate, cheap and easy to use tool for identifying patients at risk of having neuropathy in primary care setting.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
The prevalence of DPN using different diagnostic test.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Holzer SE, Camerota A, Martens L, Cuerdon T, Crystal-Peters J, Zagari M. Costs and duration of care for lower extremity ulcers in patients with diabetes. Clin Ther. 1998;20:169–81. - PubMed
    1. Boulton AJM, Gries FA, Jervell JA. Guidelines for the diagnosis and outpatient management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Diabetic Med. 1998;15:508–514. - PubMed
    1. Malay DS, Margolis DJ, Hoffstad OJ, Bellamy S. The incidence and risks of failure to heal after lower extremity amputation for the treatment of diabetic neuropathic foot ulcer. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2006;45:366–74. - PubMed
    1. Frykberg RG, Armstrong DG, Giurini J, et al. Diabetic foot disorders: A Clinical practice guideline. For the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons and the American College of Foot and Ankle Orthopedics and Medicine. Diabetic Foot Disorders. J Foot Ankle Surg. 2000;39(Suppl 5):1–60. - PubMed
    1. Larijani B, Forouzandeh F. Diabetic foot disorders, a review article. Iran J Diabetes Lipid Disord. 2003;2:93–103.

LinkOut - more resources