Beghi E, Monticelli M L
Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche, Mario Negri, Milan, Italy.
Acta Neurol Scand. 1997 Oct;96(4):223-8.
To assess the prevalence and the risk factors of diabetic polyneuropathy in representative samples of elderly individuals.
4191 subjects 55 years and older from two areas of Italy were screened by their general practitioners (GPs) and those positive for neuropathic symptoms were subjected to a standard clinical examinations.
The screening questionnaire included a list of clinical conditions possibly causing polyneuropathy, including diabetes. In patients with diabetes, the date of diagnosis, the most recent fasting and post-prandial blood glucose value and glycosylated hemoglobin were sought. Probable polyneuropathy was diagnosed through impairment of 2 or 3 nerve functions (strength, sensation, tendon reflexes) in the extremities with symmetrical and distal distribution.
The sample included 347 patients with diabetes (8.3%). Sixty-six of them (19%) had symptoms and signs consistent with probable polyneuropathy (overall prevalence 1.6%). The disease prevailed in women and in subjects aged 75 years and older. Diabetic patients with polyneuropathy had a longer disease course (P < 0.02) and high mean fasting (P < 0.001) and post-prandial (P < 0.02) blood glucose.
Diabetic polyneuropathy in the elderly is a fairly common clinical condition prevailing in women and in subjects 75 years and older. Risk factors for polyneuropathy include prolonged disease duration and high mean fasting and post-prandial blood glucose.
评估老年代表性样本中糖尿病性多发性神经病的患病率及危险因素。
来自意大利两个地区的4191名55岁及以上的受试者由其全科医生（GP）进行筛查，有神经病变症状阳性者接受标准临床检查。
筛查问卷包括一系列可能导致多发性神经病的临床情况，包括糖尿病。对于糖尿病患者，询问诊断日期、最近的空腹和餐后血糖值以及糖化血红蛋白。通过四肢2项或3项神经功能（肌力、感觉、腱反射）受损且呈对称和远端分布来诊断可能的多发性神经病。
样本包括347例糖尿病患者（8.3%）。其中66例（19%）有与可能的多发性神经病一致的症状和体征（总体患病率1.6%）。该疾病在女性及75岁及以上人群中更为常见。患有多发性神经病的糖尿病患者病程更长（P < 0.02），平均空腹血糖（P < 0.001）和餐后血糖（P < 0.02）更高。
老年人糖尿病性多发性神经病是一种相当常见的临床情况，在女性及75岁及以上人群中更为常见。多发性神经病的危险因素包括病程延长以及平均空腹和餐后血糖升高。
