title: Prevalence and risk factors of neuropathy in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in primary care practices: a retrospective database analysis in Germany and U.K.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic neuropathy in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes in general practices.
  
  
  METHODS
  Longitudinal data from nationwide general practices in Germany (n=630) and U.K. (n=100) (Disease Analyzer) were analyzed. Patients with newly diagnosed (<1 year) type 2 diabetes (2008-2012) were identified including 45,633 patients (age: 66, SD: 12 years) in Germany and 14,205 patients (age: 63, SD: 13 years) in U.K. Neuropathy was identified by ICD code (E11.4) or the original diagnosis. Associations of potential risk factors with neuropathy were investigated using logistic regression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of diagnosed neuropathy was 5.7% (95% CI: 5.5-5.9%) in Germany and 2.4% (1.9-2.9%) in U.K. In Germany, factors independently associated with neuropathy in stepwise logistic regression were age (>70 years: OR; 95% CI 2.1; 1.6-2.8), retinopathy (3.0; 2.1-4.2), peripheral artery disease (PAD: 1.9; 1.4-2.5), insulin treatment (4.6; 3.5-6.2) and oral antidiabetic drugs (OAD: 1.6; 1.2-2.0). In UK, male sex (1.4; 1.01-1.9), nephropathy (1.7; 1.2-2.5), PAD (1.5; 1.1-2.1), antihypertensives (1.7; 1.1-2.5), insulin (2.1; 1.1-3.8) and OAD (1.4; 1.01-1.8) were identified.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of diabetic neuropathy at time of type 2 diabetes diagnosis was low in primary care (Germany, UK). Neuropathy was associated with age, PAD and microvacular complications.
authors: IMS HEALTH, Frankfurt, Germany. Electronic address: kkostev@de.imshealth.com.
authors: Karel
authors: K
authors: Kostev
authors: Fresenius University of Applied Sciences, Health & Social Faculty, Germany.
authors: Achim
authors: A
authors: Jockwig
authors: Praxis for Internal Medicine and Nephrology, Munich, Germany.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Hallwachs
authors: Institute of Biometrics and Epidemiology, German Diabetes Center, Duesseldorf, Germany.
authors: Wolfgang
authors: W
authors: Rathmann
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D016208:Databases, Factual; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000453:epidemiology; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D016017:Odds Ratio; D058729:Peripheral Arterial Disease / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Diabetic neuropathy; Primary care; Type 2 diabetes