Prevalence and Determinants of Peripheral Neuropathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Attending a Tertiary Care Center in the United Arab Emirates

Objective: This study was designed to estimate prevalence and identify relevant determinants of peripheral neuropathy in patients >18 years old with type 2 diabetes mellitus of at least 12 months. Methods: Adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (394 patients, age = 57 ± 12 yr, 67% females, duration of diabetes = 10.9 ± 7.9 yr) were randomly selected from the Diabetes Center at Tawam Hospital (Al Ain City, United Arab Emirates). The Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI) history and sign scores were used to assess neuropathy. Stepwise logistic regression analysis was used to assess independent predictors of peripheral neuropathy on the Michigan score. Results: Prevalence of peripheral neuropathy was 10.4% based on the MNSI-history score of ≥7 and 25.6% based on the MNSI-sign score of ≥ 3. Logistic regression analysis revealed that HbA1c [OR=3.41, 95% CI; 1.15– 10.16] and physical activity [OR=4.99, 95% CI; 2.21–11.29] were significant predictors of the MNSI-history score. Age [OR=1.06, 95% CI; 1.03–1.09], height [OR=1.06, 95% CI; 1.02–1.10], systolic blood pressure [OR=1.03, 95% CI; 1.01–1.06] and duration of diabetes [OR=1.08, 95% CI; 1.04–1.13] were significant predictors of the MNSI-sign score. Conclusion: Peripheral neuropathy was common in the studied diabetic patients and was associated with modifiable risk factors, such as glycemic control, blood pressure control and physical activity.