Abstract

OLIVEROS-LIJAP, Leila; AVILA-ESPINOZA, Pamela; ULLOA, Viviana  and  BERNABE-ORTIZ, Antonio. Quality of life among patients with peripheral diabetic neuropathy: a cross-sectional study in Lima, Peru. Acta méd. Peru [online]. 2018, vol.35, n.3, pp.160-167. ISSN 1728-5917.

Objective: To assess the association between the presence of peripheral neuropathy and life quality among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional study enrolling patients aged ≥18 years with diagnosis of type 2 diabetes mellitus in a tertiary-level hospital. The outcome was quality of life, assessed in the physical and mental spheres of the 36-item Short Form (SF-36). The diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy was given by the positivity of one of the following tests: Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test, 128 Hz tuning fork test, presence of visible foot ulcers and/or Charcot arthropathy. The linear regression model was used to verify the association of interest. Results: A total of 330 patients were enrolled, 56.6% female, mean age 61.3 years (±11.5). The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy was 44.2% (95%CI: 38.8%- 49.6%). Based on the physical sphere of the SF-36, the mean of the quality of life was 46.8 (±6.3) points; whereas, the mean of the quality of life in the mental sphere was 39.5 (±8.2). In multivariable model, peripheral neuropathy was associated with a reduction of 2 points (β = -2.06; IC95%: -3.52; -0.60) in the physical sphere of the quality of life score, but it did not change the mental sphere (β = 0.03; IC95%: -1.79; 1.85). Conclusions: The peripheral neuropathy among type 2 diabetes cases was associated with reduction of quality of life in the physical sphere, but not in the mental one. Almost half of diabetes patients had peripheral neuropathy.

Keywords : Diabetic neuropathies; Quality of life; Diabetes mellitus; type 2.

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