Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is the most common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM). In 50% of cases, DPN is accompanied by neuropathic pain. Recently, the influence of comorbid disorders, which often determine the course of DPN, has been actively studied.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze comorbid disorders and risk factors for the development of pain syndrome in patients with DPN.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
In 40 patients with a painful form of DPN, the severity of symptoms of polyneuropathy was assessed using the Neuropathy Total Symptom Score-9 (NTSS-9), the Neuropathy Impairment Score in the Lower Limbs (NIS-LL), the Toronto Clinical Neuropathy Score (TCNS). The assessment of the intensity of the pain syndrome was carried out using a visual analog scale (VAS). For a comprehensive assessment of the emotional status of patients, the Beck’s Depression Inventory, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF), and the 12-item Short Form Survey for quality of life were used.
RESULTS
The relationship between the intensity of pain and the level of depression (r=0.785, p<0.001), as well as the degree of anxiety disorders (r=0.753, p<0.001) was revealed, which indicates the catastrophization of pain syndrome in patients with reduced mental health. The increase in scores on the NTSS-9 scale corresponded to low scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) (r=0.489, p=0.04) and the Münsterberg’s test (r= –0.476, p=0.04), which indicates the participation of cognitive disorders in the formation of a subjective assessment of pain syndrome. The relationship between the degree of insomnia and polyneuropathic syndrome on the NIS-LL and PSQI scales (r=0.641, p<0.001) was one of the most significant, indicating an important effect of sleep disorders on the pain symptoms of DPN. The relationship between the severity of the pain syndrome and the duration of DM was not found.
CONCLUSION
The influence of emotional disorders, cognitive disorders, insomnia on the severity of pain syndrome in diabetic polyneuropathy was revealed. Diagnosis and effective treatment of comorbid disorders can be effective for reducing pain in diabetic polyneuropathy.