PREVALENCE OF DIABETIC NEUROPATHY WITH SOMATIC SYMPTOMS - A DOOR-TO-DOOR SURVEY IN 2 SICILIAN MUNICIPALITIES

In a door-to-door survey conducted in two municipalities of Sicily, we ascertained the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy. Our case-finding w as restricted to subjects with somatic symptoms. During phase 1, we ad ministered a screening instrument for peripheral neuropathy to 14,540 persons residing in Santa Teresa di Riva (Messina Province) and Terras ini (Palermo Province). During phase 2, neurologists evaluated those s ubjects who had screened positive. Diagnoses were based on clinical cr iteria only, and were reviewed by an adjudication panel. We found 39 p ersons (27 women, 12 men) affected by diabetic neuropathy. The crude p revalence, as of November 1, 1987, was 268.2 cases per 100,000 populat ion. The prevalence increased with advancing age for both sexes and wa s consistently higher in women. The most common type was distal symmet ric polyneuropathy. The median time between diagnosis of diabetes mell itus and onset of diabetic neuropathy was 8 years, and almost all iden tified persons with diabetic neuropathy were under treatment for diabe tes mellitus.