Identification of independent risk factors for diabetic neuropathy progression in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Objective To identify independent risk factors for diabetic neuropathy (DN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Methods We retrospectively analyzed 376 patients with T2DM at the First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, China between January 2013 and October 2016. Multivariate logistic regression was used to explore potential risk factors for progression of DN in patients with T2DM. Effect sizes were estimated using odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results The prevalence of DN in patients with T2DM was 43.1%. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that retinopathy (OR: 2.755, 95% CI: 1.599–4.746); diabetic nephropathy (OR: 2.196, 95% CI: 1.279–3.772); longer duration of T2DM (OR: 1.081, 95% CI: 1.045–1.120); use of insulin (OR: 1.091, 95% CI: 1.018–1.170); longer history of alcohol consumption (OR: 1.034, 95% CI: 1.010–1.059); and higher blood urea nitrogen (OR: 1.081, 95% CI: 1.009–1.159) were associated with increased risk of DN in patients with T2DM. Conclusions Retinopathy, diabetic nephropathy, longer duration of T2DM, use of insulin, longer history of alcohol consumption, and higher blood urea nitrogen were independent risk factors for DN. These findings should be verified in large-scale prospective studies.