SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article
Front. Neurol.
Sec. Headache and Neurogenic Pain
Volume 16 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fneur.2025.1564867
This article is part of the Research TopicInnovative Approaches to Neuralgia: Mechanisms and Treatment DevelopmentView all 12 articles
Prevalence and risk factors for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Provisionally accepted
Peng Zhou1Jin song Zhou2,3Jin jie Li2,3Lang Qin1
Wen feng Hu1Xiao yi Zhang1Jian xia Wang2,3
Zhen Shi2,3*- 1Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- 2Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China
- 3Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan,Hubei Province, China
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Objective: This study aimed to explore the prevalence and risk factors for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy through meta-analysis, and to provide countermeasures for early intervention and active prevention of diabetic peripheral neuropathic pain.We conducted a systematic search of PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library for articles published from the establishment of the database to November 2024. A total of 14 studies (nine cross-sectional studies and five cohort studies) qualified for meta-analysis. We used a random-effects meta-analysis and assessed heterogeneity and publication bias.Results: A total of 14 studies (9 cross-sectional, 5 cohort) were included. The prevalence of PDPN was estimated at 33.9% (95% CI [19.4%-48.5%]). Significant risk factors included female gender (OR = 1.29, P = 0.004), glycosylated hemoglobin levels (WMD = 0.14, P < 0.001), nephropathy (OR = 1.41, P < 0.001), retinopathy (OR = 1.32, P = 0.040), cardiovascular disease (OR = 1.46, P < 0.001), arterial hypertension (OR = 1.25, P = 0.047), triglycerides levels (WMD = -0.10, P < 0.001), low density lipoprotein levels (WMD = -0.20, P < 0.001), smoking (OR = 0.90, P = 0.001), drinking alcohol (OR = 0.87, P = 0.001), glomerular filtration rate levels (WMD = -7.11, P < 0.001), obesity (OR = 2.00, P = 0.001). The multivariate analysis results showed that female gender (OR = 1.42, P = 0.032), age of onset (OR = 1.19, P < 0.001), duration of diabetes (OR = 1.29, P < 0.001), and retinopathy (OR = 1.90, P = 0.032) were indicated as risk factors for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy.This meta-analysis suggests that female gender, glycosylated hemoglobin levels, nephropathy, retinopathy, cardiovascular disease, arterial hypertension, smoking, drinking alcohol, glomerular filtration rate levels, obesity, age of onset and duration of diabetes are indicated as risk factors for painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy in diabetic patients.
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus (DM), Painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy (pDPN), risk factor, Systematic review, Meta-analysis
Received: 22 Jan 2025; Accepted: 16 Apr 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Zhou, Zhou, Li, Qin, Hu, Zhang, Wang and Shi. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Zhen Shi, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, 430061, Hubei Province, China
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