Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare (Jan 2023)
Prevalence and grade of diabetic peripheral neuropathy among known diabetic patients in rural Uganda
Abstract
BackgroundDiabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). Approximately 50% of diabetic patients are estimated to develop DPN, depending on disease duration and diabetic control. Early diagnosis of DPN will avoid complications, including non-traumatic lower limb amputation, which is considered the most debilitating complication, as well as significant psychological, social, and economical problems. There is a paucity of literature on DPN from rural Uganda. This study aimed to deliver the prevalence and grade of DPN among DM patients in rural Uganda.MethodsA cross-sectional study that recruited 319 known DM patients was conducted in an outpatient clinic and a diabetic clinic at Kampala International University-Teaching Hospital (KIU-TH), Bushenyi, Uganda, between December 2019 and March 2020. Questionnaires were used to obtain clinical and sociodemographic data, a neurological examination was carried out to assess the DPN, and a blood sample was collected from each participant (for random/fasting blood glucose and glycosylated hemoglobin analyses). Data were analyzed using Stata version 15.0.ResultsThe sample size was 319 participants. The mean age of study participants was 59.4 ± 14.6 years and there were 197 (61.8%) females. The prevalence of DPN was 65.8% (210/319) (95% CI 60.4% to 70.9%), and 44.8% of participants had mild DPN, 42.4% had moderate DPN, and 12.8% had severe DPN.ConclusionThe prevalence of DPN at KIU-TH was higher among DM patients and its stage might have a negative impact on the progression of Diabetes Mellitus. Therefore, clinicians should consider neurological examination as a routine during assessment of all DM patients especially in rural areas where resources and facilities are often limited so that complications related to Diabetic mellitus will be prevented.
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