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Biothesiometric Assessment of Persons Living with Diabetes Mellitus in a Tertiary Hospital in Uyo, Southern Nigeria

Received: 10 January 2023    Accepted: 2 February 2023    Published: 16 February 2023
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Abstract

Background: The burden of foot ulceration and amputation among persons living with diabetes mellitus is quite huge and peripheral neuropathy is a well known risk factor for this. The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy and associated factors among persons living with diabetes, using an objective assessment (biothesiometer), is unknown in our study environment. Method: This was a cross-sectional study involving 108 age matched diabetes mellitus patients and controls. The study was conducted in the Diabetes Clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, in Southern Nigeria. Basic demographics and other parameters such as duration of diabetes and glycated haemoglobin were recorded. All participants were recruited consecutively and screened for vibration perception threshold (VPT) using a biothesiometer. Participants with VPT ≥ 25 were considered to have significant neuropathy. Results: Significant neuropathy was recorded in 18 (33.3%) of the 54 diabetes patients. Only 3 (5.5%) of the 54 controls had significant neuropathy (p<0.01). The diabetes patients with significant neuropathy had a mean HbA1c of 8.9% compared to 7.3% for diabetes patients without significant neuropathy (p=0.02). The mean age of the diabetes patients with peripheral neuropathy was 54.0±2.3 years compared to 48.3±1.9 years for the diabetes patients without peripheral neuropathy (p<0.01). The mean duration of diabetes among diabetes patients with significant neuropathy was 10.3 years compared to 6.7 years for diabetes patients without significant neuropathy (p=0.01). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of significant peripheral neuropathy among diabetes patients as determined using a biothesiometer. Early detection and achieving a good glycaemic control may help in reducing this burden which exposes the patients to the risk of possible amputation, depression and even death.

Published in International Journal of Diabetes and Endocrinology (Volume 8, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijde.20230801.12
Page(s) 6-11
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Biothesiometer, Assessment, Diabetes Mellitus, Uyo, Nigeria

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Onung Samuel, Akhimienho Kingsley, Amadi Collins, Anyiekere Ekanem, Umoren Ubong, et al. (2023). Biothesiometric Assessment of Persons Living with Diabetes Mellitus in a Tertiary Hospital in Uyo, Southern Nigeria. International Journal of Diabetes and Endocrinology, 8(1), 6-11. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijde.20230801.12

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    ACS Style

    Onung Samuel; Akhimienho Kingsley; Amadi Collins; Anyiekere Ekanem; Umoren Ubong, et al. Biothesiometric Assessment of Persons Living with Diabetes Mellitus in a Tertiary Hospital in Uyo, Southern Nigeria. Int. J. Diabetes Endocrinol. 2023, 8(1), 6-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ijde.20230801.12

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    AMA Style

    Onung Samuel, Akhimienho Kingsley, Amadi Collins, Anyiekere Ekanem, Umoren Ubong, et al. Biothesiometric Assessment of Persons Living with Diabetes Mellitus in a Tertiary Hospital in Uyo, Southern Nigeria. Int J Diabetes Endocrinol. 2023;8(1):6-11. doi: 10.11648/j.ijde.20230801.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijde.20230801.12,
      author = {Onung Samuel and Akhimienho Kingsley and Amadi Collins and Anyiekere Ekanem and Umoren Ubong and Ekuma Ikwo and Asukpong Eso},
      title = {Biothesiometric Assessment of Persons Living with Diabetes Mellitus in a Tertiary Hospital in Uyo, Southern Nigeria},
      journal = {International Journal of Diabetes and Endocrinology},
      volume = {8},
      number = {1},
      pages = {6-11},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijde.20230801.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijde.20230801.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijde.20230801.12},
      abstract = {Background: The burden of foot ulceration and amputation among persons living with diabetes mellitus is quite huge and peripheral neuropathy is a well known risk factor for this. The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy and associated factors among persons living with diabetes, using an objective assessment (biothesiometer), is unknown in our study environment. Method: This was a cross-sectional study involving 108 age matched diabetes mellitus patients and controls. The study was conducted in the Diabetes Clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, in Southern Nigeria. Basic demographics and other parameters such as duration of diabetes and glycated haemoglobin were recorded. All participants were recruited consecutively and screened for vibration perception threshold (VPT) using a biothesiometer. Participants with VPT ≥ 25 were considered to have significant neuropathy. Results: Significant neuropathy was recorded in 18 (33.3%) of the 54 diabetes patients. Only 3 (5.5%) of the 54 controls had significant neuropathy (p<0.01). The diabetes patients with significant neuropathy had a mean HbA1c of 8.9% compared to 7.3% for diabetes patients without significant neuropathy (p=0.02). The mean age of the diabetes patients with peripheral neuropathy was 54.0±2.3 years compared to 48.3±1.9 years for the diabetes patients without peripheral neuropathy (p<0.01). The mean duration of diabetes among diabetes patients with significant neuropathy was 10.3 years compared to 6.7 years for diabetes patients without significant neuropathy (p=0.01). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of significant peripheral neuropathy among diabetes patients as determined using a biothesiometer. Early detection and achieving a good glycaemic control may help in reducing this burden which exposes the patients to the risk of possible amputation, depression and even death.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Biothesiometric Assessment of Persons Living with Diabetes Mellitus in a Tertiary Hospital in Uyo, Southern Nigeria
    AU  - Onung Samuel
    AU  - Akhimienho Kingsley
    AU  - Amadi Collins
    AU  - Anyiekere Ekanem
    AU  - Umoren Ubong
    AU  - Ekuma Ikwo
    AU  - Asukpong Eso
    Y1  - 2023/02/16
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijde.20230801.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijde.20230801.12
    T2  - International Journal of Diabetes and Endocrinology
    JF  - International Journal of Diabetes and Endocrinology
    JO  - International Journal of Diabetes and Endocrinology
    SP  - 6
    EP  - 11
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2640-1371
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijde.20230801.12
    AB  - Background: The burden of foot ulceration and amputation among persons living with diabetes mellitus is quite huge and peripheral neuropathy is a well known risk factor for this. The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy and associated factors among persons living with diabetes, using an objective assessment (biothesiometer), is unknown in our study environment. Method: This was a cross-sectional study involving 108 age matched diabetes mellitus patients and controls. The study was conducted in the Diabetes Clinic of the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, in Southern Nigeria. Basic demographics and other parameters such as duration of diabetes and glycated haemoglobin were recorded. All participants were recruited consecutively and screened for vibration perception threshold (VPT) using a biothesiometer. Participants with VPT ≥ 25 were considered to have significant neuropathy. Results: Significant neuropathy was recorded in 18 (33.3%) of the 54 diabetes patients. Only 3 (5.5%) of the 54 controls had significant neuropathy (p<0.01). The diabetes patients with significant neuropathy had a mean HbA1c of 8.9% compared to 7.3% for diabetes patients without significant neuropathy (p=0.02). The mean age of the diabetes patients with peripheral neuropathy was 54.0±2.3 years compared to 48.3±1.9 years for the diabetes patients without peripheral neuropathy (p<0.01). The mean duration of diabetes among diabetes patients with significant neuropathy was 10.3 years compared to 6.7 years for diabetes patients without significant neuropathy (p=0.01). Conclusion: There is a high prevalence of significant peripheral neuropathy among diabetes patients as determined using a biothesiometer. Early detection and achieving a good glycaemic control may help in reducing this burden which exposes the patients to the risk of possible amputation, depression and even death.
    VL  - 8
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

  • Department of Paediatrics, Edo State University, Uzairue, Nigeria

  • Department of Chemical Pathology, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

  • Department of Community Medicine, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

  • Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Unit, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, Uyo, Nigeria

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