Investigation of the risk factors of diabetic neuropathy in terms of pain, sleep and quality of life

Abstract

Purpose: Neuropathy is one of the most common complications of diabetes mellitus and affects the quality of life. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors in terms of sleep, pain and quality of life and associated symptoms for diabetic neuropathy. Methods: Two hundred and seventy-six individuals with diabetes mellitus were included the study, and divided into two groups randomly according to having neuropathy or not. Physical and clinical characteristics were recorded. Pain intensity, social and working life quality, and complaint of non-restorative sleep were assessed by Visual Analogue Scale. The Mann Whitney U test and independent samples t-test were used to analyze time-dependent changes. Non-time-dependent changes were analyzed by the chl-square test. Logistic regression was done for analyzing the multiple risk factors in the groups. Results: There were not significant differences between the groups for the following characteristics: age, gender, smoking habit, alcohol consumption, type of diabetes, body mass index (p> 0.05). Duration of disease (p=0.007), pain intensity (p< 0.001), complaint of non-restorative sleep (p=0.046) were higher, social and working life quality (p=0.038) were lower In neuropathic patients. Discussion: Duration of disease as a potential risk factor, pain Intensity, sleeping complaints and quality of life as the most complained symptoms for diabetic neuropathy should be taken into account for prevention, early detection, and appropriate treatment.