RESEARCH - The prevalence, predictors, and consequences of peripheral sensory neuropathy in older patients

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J Am Board Fam Pract. 2004 Sep-Oct;17(5):309-18.

The prevalence, predictors, and consequences of peripheral sensory

neuropathy in older patients.

Mold JW, Vesely SK, Keyl BA, Schenk JB, M.

Department of Family and Preventive Medicine, University of Oklahoma

Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City 73104, USA. james-mold@...

BACKGROUND: The prevalence, predictors, and consequences of peripheral

neuropathy in the elderly have not been well defined. METHODS: Seven

hundred ninety-five noninstitutionalized patients 65 years of age and

older, recruited from the practices of family physicians, completed

questionnaires and underwent peripheral neurologic examinations and

tests of gait and balance. Variables included sociodemographic

information, medical conditions, symptoms (numbness, pain, trouble with

balance or walking, and restless legs), quality of life measures, ankle

reflexes, position sense, vibratory sense, fine touch sensation,

Tinnetti balance examination, and a 50-foot timed walk. RESULTS: The

prevalence of at least one bilateral sensory deficit rose from 26% for

65- to 74-year-olds to 54% for those 85 and older. The most common

deficit was loss of ankle reflex followed by loss of fine touch. Only

40% of those with bilateral deficits reported having a disease known to

cause peripheral neuropathy. Predictors of bilateral deficits included

increasing age, income less than 15,000 dollars, a history of military

service, increasing body mass index, self-reported history of diabetes

mellitus, Vitamin B12 deficiency or rheumatoid arthritis, and absence of

a history of hypertension. Deficits were associated with numbness, pain,

restless legs, trouble walking, trouble with balance, and reduced

quality of life.

CONCLUSIONS: Peripheral sensory deficits are common in the elderly. In

most cases, a medical cause is not obvious. Their consequences may not

be as benign as often supposed.

PMID: 15355943

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve & db=pubmed & dopt=Abstra\

ct & list_uids=15355943 & itool=iconfft

Full text article:

http://www.jabfp.org/cgi/content/full/17/5/309

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