title: Polyneuropathy in Australian outpatients with type II diabetes mellitus.
abstract: In order to determine the local prevalence of polyneuropathy among adult outpatients with type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus, we applied a series of standardised measures to patients attending a multidisciplinary diabetes clinic. The study group comprised 94 men and 15 women; mean age, 70.6+/-7.8 years; mean duration of diabetes, 11.7+/-10.1 years; and mean HbA1c 8.3%+/-1.7%. Neuropathy Symptom Scores > or = 1 were present in 97% of patients (mean, 3+/-2; range, 0-12), and 95% had Neuropathy Disability Scores > or = 2 (mean, 27+/-19; range, 0-87). 52% of men reported impotence. Autonomic dysfunction on cardiovascular reflex testing was present in 46% of patients (39/84). Finger and toe vibration perception thresholds were greater than 3SD higher than mean thresholds measured in control subjects without diabetes in 43% and 58% of patients, respectively. Polyneuropathy, defined as lower limb sensory and motor nerve conduction velocity or latency outside mean +/-2 SD of that measured in age-matched controls, was present in 49% of patients (53/109). These results suggest that there is a high prevalence of polyneuropathy in Australian out-patients with type II diabetes mellitus. In this study, clinical assessment using Neuropathy Disability Scores was not diagnostically useful since only five patients had a normal score. Using nerve-conduction studies as the "gold standard" diagnostic criteria, the best alternative test for the presence of polyneuropathy was toe vibration perception threshold (sensitivity 74%, specificity 56%). In view of the emerging evidence that intensive glycaemic control reduces the rate of progression of polyneuropathy, we recommend that patients with type II diabetes mellitus have nerve-conduction studies performed for early detection of this important complication.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Greenslopes Private Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: C N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: de Wytt
authors.forename: R V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: G I
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Hockings
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Joyner
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Strakosch
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007866:Leg / Q000294:innervation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009431:Neural Conduction; D009460:Neurologic Examination; D010045:Outpatients