Evaluation of Different HbA1c Levels to Assess the Risk of Peripheral Neuropathy Among Type 2 Diabetic Patients Along With Other Conventional Risk Factors

Abstract

This cross sectional study was carried out in the outpatient department of Bangladesh Institute of Research and Rehabilitation in Diabetes, Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, Bangladesh (BIRDEM) General Hospital, Dhaka, to explore the factors influencing or related to the development of the diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) with specific concern to the HbA_1c levels. A total of 400 patients with type 2 diabetic were selected to collect information on socio-demographic, blood pressure, anthropometry and lipid profile. Glycaemic status was assessed by HbA_1c and plasma glucose levels. Prevalence of DPN was 16.8%, with male 10.8% and female 20.9%. Increased HbA_1c categories above 7.0% were significantly associated with increased prevalence of DPN (9.2 Vs. 10.5 Vs 26.5%; ?² = 19.446, p = .000). Logistic regression models showed that the risk of DPN was strongly increased at the HbA_1c categories ?8% (OR = 3.57; 95% CI: 1.75-7.26). Advanced age (OR = 1.97; 95% CI: 1.12-3.47), longer duration of diabetes (OR = 1.81; 95% CI: 1.02-3.19), lacking of physical exercise (OR = 2.60; 95% CI: 1.47-4.58), female gender (OR = 2.17; 95% CI: 1.21-3.89), fasting blood glucose (OR = 1.153; 95% CI: 1.058-1.255) and blood glucose 2 hours after breakfast (OR = 1.096; 95% CI: 1.029-1.168) were significant risk factors of DPN. However, there is need of a large scale community based prospective study to validate the results.