| Abstrakt: |
This report quantifies the relationship between neuropathy sensory symptoms (NSSs) and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Diabetes patients with and without DPN used a physician-administered symptom scale to document the frequency of numbness; insensitivity; burning; warm, dry feet; tightness or aching; bandaged sensation; prickling; tingling; sharp pain; hypersensitivity to touch; and cold sensation. Using these data, we calculated the prevalence of each NSS, and also quantified the association between each NSS and the presence of DPN by determining NSS accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values. Each NSS was more prevalent and occurred more frequently in patients with DPN (p<0.01), highlighting the importance of physicians inquiring about the presence and frequency of NSSs when seeking to distinguish between diabetes patients with and without DPN. Notably, several non-painful symptoms (e.g. tingling and prickling) consistently demonstrated strong associations with DPN. Bandaged sensation, warm, dry feet, and the sensation of coldness consistently demonstrated the weakest associations with DPN. NSSs (both painful and non-painful) distinguish diabetes patients with and without DPN. Identifying NSSs associated with DPN should prompt the physician to explore more fully for the presence of DPN and to initiate more aggressive intervention for diabetes. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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