Is it possible to substitute the monofilament test for the Ipswich Touch Test in screening for peripheral diabetic neuropathy?

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to assess the agreement and efficacy of the Ipswich Touch Test compared to the monofilament test in individuals with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional and analytical study was conducted. The inclusion criteria were patients with type II diabetes (n = 250) who did not present ulcers or amputation in either foot. The exclusion criteria were as follows: patients who presented sequelae of cerebrovascular disease or other neurological pathologies, as well as diagnoses of malignancy, alcohol abuse, liver cirrhosis, hepatitis B, AIDS, hypothyroidism, chronic kidney disease or lupus erythaematosus, as these clinical conditions could influence or bias the results (Won and Park in Endocrinol Metab 31:230–238, 2016). Sensitivity, specificity, predictive values, likelihood ratios, and Kappa index were calculated. Other factors assessed were glycated haemoglobin and body mass index. RESULTS: Most of the participants were female (71.2%), and glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) was greater than 7% in 54.4% of the patients. The mean age was 59.43 years, and the mean time since diagnosis was 12.38 years. The Kappa index was 0.819 (p < 0.001), and the Ipswich Touch Test had a sensitivity of 83.33%, a specificity of 97.66%, a positive predictive value of 85.71%, a negative predictive value of 97.21%, a positive likelihood ratio of 30.19%, and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.17%. The level of significance was 5% in this study. CONCLUSION: The Ipswich Touch Test resented good agreement and efficacy compared to the gold standard—the 10 g monofilament test.