Threshold characteristics of vibration perception through tuning fork vibration measurement in the assessment of lower extremity neuropathy in outpatients at hanoi heart hospital

Abstract

Background: Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy (DPN) is a key factor in the causal pathway leading to both foot ulceration and amputation.[1]

Objective: "Characterization of threshold for vibration perception through tuning fork vibration measurement in the assessment of lower extremity neurological complications in outpatients at Hanoi Heart Hospital".

Method: cross-sectional analysis.

Results: The sample size included 205 patients with symptoms of numbness in the legs being treated as outpatients at the medical examination department, Hanoi Heart Hospital; recruited into the study from October 2022 to November 2022; the average age is 65±10 years old, the youngest is 33 years old, the oldest is 92 years old; including 187 patients > 50 years old, accounting for 91.2%; the proportion of men accounted for 46.8% and the rate of women accounted for 53.2%. The highest rates of comorbidities were Hypertension, diabetes and dyslipidemia respectively 89.3%, 85.4% and 81.5%; VPT ≥ 25 has the highest rate: 60.5% on the left side and 59.5% on the right side; for diabetes detection time: the proportion of patients with VPT ≥ 25 mainly in the group of patients with diabetes > 5 years (77.4-78.7%), and a moderate rate (23.7% - 29.3%) in group suffering from 1 to 5 years; The rate of clinical symptoms appearing more frequently in group VPT ≥ 25.

Conclusion: In cases of subclinical use for the diagnosis of neuropathy, a VPT measurement should be performed for the diagnosis and early detection of this pathology in at-risk groups, especially those with diabetes.