Résumé
To detect neuropathy in diabetics who are clinically asymptomatic, using SW monofilament and to correlate the frequency of detected neuropathy with the duration of diabetes. Known patients of type 2 diabetes that do not have symptoms of peripheral neuropathy were included. Height, weight and duration of diabetes were measured and BMI calculated. SW monofilament was pressed perpendicular to the test site with enough pressure to bend it for one second. Comparison of frequency of SW monofilament test among gender was done by x2 test. Bivariate correlation of SW monofilament test result with duration of diabetes was done by Kendall's test. A total of 700 patients including 324 males and 376 females were examined. Asymptomatic neuropathy was detected in 14.4% of patients. The mean age of males was significantly more [50.4 +/- 9.0 vs 46.7 +/- 8.4 yrs; P < 0.0001] but BMI was lower than females [24.4 +/- 2.8 vs 26.2 +/- 4.2; P < 0.0001]. No correlation of asymptomatic neuropathy with duration of diabetes was detected [P = 0.995]. Asymptomatic neuropathy is prevalent in our diabetic population and it does not correlate with the duration of diabetes. Diabetics should be actively screened for asymptomatic neuropathy by SW monofilament