PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY IN DIABETIC PATIENTS ATTENDING PRINCE ABDUL AZIZ BIN MAJED DIABETES CENTRE IN MADINAH, SAUDI ARABIA

Objective: The present cross sectional study aimed to assess the prevalence of PN among diabetic patients and the risk factors associated with its occurrence.

Methods: The study recruited 100 diabetic patients attending Prince Abdul-Aziz bin Majed Diabetes care centre, Madinah, KSA in the period from March 2011 through December 2012. Diagnosis of DPN in the studied patients was established by the staff in the centre through history and physical examination. Appropriate statistical analysis including multivariate logistic regression analysis was done.

Results: The frequency of PN among the studied subjects was 20.0%. Related risk factors were: old age above 60 years (odds ratio (OR)= 4.10; 95% confidence interval (CI)= 1.40-12.0), obesity (OR= 2.80; 95% CI= 0.68-11.5), associated severe hypertension a (OR= 4.30; 95% CI= 1.4-13.04) poor control of DM (OR= 1.60; 95% CI=0.65-6.95) and duration of DM. The risk of PN, however, was reduced significantly among married and highly educated patients.

Conclusion: Diabetic PN showed a considerable prevalence in the studied patients. The related risk factors were old age, prolonged and poorly controlled DM, obesity and associated hypertension.