Neuropathy in Ethiopian diabetics: a correlation of clinical and nerve conduction studies

A clinical and electrophysiological study of neuropathy in 215 unselected Ethiopian diabetics and 100 healthy controls was carried out at the Tikur Ambassa Teaching Hospital, Addis Ababa. The prevalence in diabetics was 54%, in controls 8%. The prevalence was significantly related to the duration of diabetes: 42%, 60% and 80% for a duration of respectively less than 5 years, 5 to 14 years, and 15 years and longer. There was no relationship of the prevalence to age. Diabetics with retinopathy (15%), nephropathy (12%) and liver cirrhosis (13%) had prevalences of respectively 70%, 76% and 71%; much higher figures than in patients without these complications. A higher prevalence of neuropathy was detected by nerve conduction studies than by clinical methods. The mean conduction velocity diminished in direct relation to the duration of the diabetes. The prevalence of neuropathy in our patients is similar to the prevalence reported from other countries in Africa. Poor nutritional background, inadequate control of the diabetes and the high prevalence of associated diseases such as liver cirrhosis may be partly responsible for the high prevalences of neuropathy in African diabetics.