Factors associated with diabetic polyneuropathy‐related sensory symptoms and signs in patients with polyneuropathy: A cross‐sectional Japanese study (JDDM 52) using a non‐linear model

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: To assess the prevalence of diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN)‐related sensory symptoms/signs and associated factors in patients with polyneuropathy, considering non‐linear effects for numerical variables. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross‐sectional survey of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus from 17 primary care clinics across Japan was carried out. DPN and DPN‐related sensory symptoms/signs were diagnosed according to the Diabetic Neuropathy Study Group in Japan criteria. RESULTS: Of the 9,914 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in this study, 2,745 had DPN and 1,689 had DPN‐related sensory symptoms/signs (61.5% of patients with DPN). There were significant correlations between DPN‐related sensory symptoms/signs and smoking status (odds ratio 2.04 for current and 1.64 for former; P < 0.001 and P = 0.002, respectively), sex (odds ratio 0.56 for male/female; P < 0.001) and alcohol consumption (odds ratio 2.02 for former/never; P = 0.004). Based on the non‐linear logistic regression model, significant correlations were observed between the presence of DPN‐related sensory symptoms/signs and higher systolic blood pressure (SBP), longer diabetes duration, and decreasing age. The logarithm of odds for SBP increased until reaching approximately 130 mmHg, then it plateaued. CONCLUSIONS: Some modifiable factors assessed in the large survey database might be associated with DPN‐related sensory symptoms/signs, namely smoking, alcohol consumption and SBP. Maintaining SBP <130 mmHg was associated with lower odds of DPN‐related sensory symptoms/signs in patients with DPN.