Magnitude and associated factors of peripheral neuropathy among diabetes patients attending Jimma University Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia.

Background: Chronic complications of diabetes (DM) are a major cause of mortality and morbidity. Of these, diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is the most common. Screening using validated tools for DPN is crucial to prevent consequent complications. One of the useful tools for DPN screening in clinical practice is the Michigan Neuropathy Screening Instrument (MNSI). However, there is limited information on DPN in the study area. Hence, the aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of DPN and its determinants among patients with type one DM (T1DM) attending Jimma University Medical Center (JUMC) from January 2 to March 31, 2020.

Methods: An institution based cross-sectional study was conducted and DPN was assessed using MNSI. Data were collected using pretested structured questionnaire and entered into EPI data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for analysis. A variable having a p-value of <0.25 in the bivariable logistic regression analysis were subjected to multivariable logistic regression analysis to avoid confounding variable's effect. Adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were calculated at 95% confidence interval (CI) and considered significant with a p-value of ≤0.05 in the final model.

Results: A total of 217 study participants with T1DM who met inclusion criteria were recruited consecutively during the study period. Their mean age was 43 ± 15.5 years and the overall prevalence of DPN was 37.3% among study participants. The independent predictors of DPN identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis were increasing age [age of 40-49 years (AOR = 3.80; 95% CI: 1.30, 10.60), age of ≥50 years (AOR = 6.50; 95% CI: 2.50, 16.50)], smoking habit [current smoker (AOR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.20, 9.50; former smoker (AOR = 2.70; 95% CI: 1.60, 6.80)] and comorbid hypertension (AOR = 2.40; 95% CI: 1, 5.40).

Conclusion: The magnitude of DPN among DM patients at JUMC was high. Early detection and appropriate management is vital particularly for these with increasing age, comorbid hypertension and smoking habit.