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. 2016 Jul 20:5:26-31.
doi: 10.1016/j.jcte.2016.07.001. eCollection 2016 Sep.

Peripheral sensory neuropathy in type 2 diabetes patients: A case control study in Accra, Ghana

Kwame Yeboah  1 , Peter Puplampu  2 , Vincent Boima  2 , Daniel A Antwi  1 , Ben Gyan  3 , Albert G B Amoah  2   4
Affiliations

Peripheral sensory neuropathy in type 2 diabetes patients: A case control study in Accra, Ghana

Kwame Yeboah et al. J Clin Transl Endocrinol. .

Abstract

Objective: Peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) is a common cause of ulceration and amputation in diabetes (DM) patients. The prevalence of PSN in DM patients is largely undetermined in sub-Saharan African population. We studied the burden of PSN in DM patients using a validated questionnaire and quantitative sensory test.

Methods: In a case-control design, PSN was measured in 491 DM patients and 330 non-DM controls using Michigan neuropathy screening instrument (MNSI) and vibration perception threshold (VPT). PSN was defined as MNSI symptom score ≥7, MNSI examination score ≥2 or VPT ≥25V.

Results: The prevalence of PSN screened by MNSI symptom score, MNSI examination score and VPT was 7.1%, 51.5% and 24.5% in DM patients; and 1.5%, 24.5% and 8.5% in non-DM participants respectively. The major determinants of PSN screened by MNSI examination score were diabetes status [OR (95% CI): 4.31 (2.94-6.31), p < 0.001], age [1.03 (1.01-1.05), p < 0.001], previous [4.55 (2.11-9.82), p < 0.001] and current [8.16 (3.77-17.68), p < 0.001] smoking status. The major determinants of PSN screened by VPT were diabetes status [1.04 (1.02-1.06), p < 0.001], age [1.02 (1.01-1.03), p = 0.047], heart rate [1.78 (1.08-2.92), p = 0.023], second-hand smoking [3.66 (2.26-5.95), p < 0.001] and body height [3.28 (1.65-8.42), p = 0.015].

Conclusion: Our study has shown high burden of PSN in DM patients in Ghana using simple, accurate, and non-invasive screening tools like MNSI and neurothesiometer.

Keywords: DM, diabetes mellitus; Diabetes; Ghana; MNSI, Michigan neuropathy screening instrument; PSN, peripheral sensory neuropathy; Peripheral sensory neuropathy; VPT, vibration perception threshold; Vibration perception threshold.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
a). Gender distribution of peripheral sensory neuropathy by MNSQ examination score (≥2.5). b). Distribution of peripheral sensory neuropathy by MNSQ examination (≥2.5) across age decades.
Figure 2
Figure 2
a). Gender distribution of peripheral sensory neuropathy by VPT (≥25V). b). Distribution of peripheral sensory neuropathy by VPT (≥25V) across age decades.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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