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.