Prevalence of Neuro-Musculoskeletal Complications in Patients with T2DM

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus affects normal metabolizing body function and causes long term organs dysfunctions like blindness, kidney failure, neuropathy and autonomic dysfunction. The musculoskeletal is also affected by T2DM and causes pain, dysfunctions, and disabilities. Thus, this study is to find the prevalence of neuro-musculoskeletal complications in patients with T2DM. This cross sectional survey was conducted in various public and private sector hospitals of four major cities of Pakistan (Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, and Sargodha) from 1^st May to 31^st December 2015. The patients of type II diabetes mellitus with both gender and age above 40 were included, and patients with active systemic disease of bones and soft tissues were excluded. A self-structured questionnaire was developed, reviewed by experts, and finalized after calculating their recommendations. The questionnaire was distributed among 600 patients, out of whom 500 patients responded. The non-probability convenient sampling technique was used for data collection. The data was analyzed by SPSS and percentages were calculated to estimate the neuro-musculoskeletal complications in patients with T2DM.The prevalence of neuro-musculoskeletal complication in type II Diabetes mellitus was 100 %, while the frozen shoulder, tingling sensations and ants crawling sensations (61%) were equally the most common neuro-musculoskeletal complications followed by knee pain (53%), low back pain (43%).The most involved age group was 61 to 65 years and 58% patients were with positive family history. The most commonly used way of treatment was medications (90%) and physical therapy (10%). It was proved in study that frozen shoulder, altered sensations, knee pain and back pain have high association with long duration of T2DM.There is association between long duration of diabetes mellitus and neuro-musculoskeletal complications. It is concluded that the prevalence of neuro-musculoskeletal complications is high among patients of T2DM and commonly affects shoulder, back, knee and altered sensation in legs. These are most commonly managed with medications followed by physical therapy.

Keywords: T2DM, neuro-musculoskeletal, complications, frozen shoulder, Range of motion