Assessing Pain Severity And Sleep Quality In Patients With Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy- A Cross Sectional Observational Study

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is a prevalent and challenging complication of diabetes, marked by nerve damage that typically affects the hands and feet. This condition often results in pain, numbness, and various sensory disruptions, making it a significant concern for those living with diabetes.

Aim: To assess pain severity and sleep quality in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Material and Methods: The current study design was cross sectional observational. The study was conducted in selected hospital in Puducherry. The study sample size includes 134 patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy.

Findings: The findings indicate that 7.5% reported no pain, 18.7% had mild pain (mean score 2.0 ± 0.8), 37.3% experienced moderate pain (mean score 5.0 ± 0.7), 22.4% had severe pain (mean score 7.5 ± 0.5), and 14.2% reported very severe pain (mean score 9.5 ± 0.5). Regarding sleep quality, 22.4% had good sleep quality (mean score 3.2 ± 1.0), 37.3% had fair sleep quality (mean score 7.8 ± 1.2), 29.9% experienced poor sleep quality (mean score 12.3 ± 1.4), and 10.4% had very poor sleep quality (mean score 17.5 ± 1.2).

Conclusion: The concluded that there is a significant association between pain severity and sleep quality in patients with diabetic peripheral neuropathy. The study demonstrates that as the severity of pain increases, sleep quality tends to deteriorate, evidenced by a moderate positive correlation (r = 0.65) that is statistically significant (p = 0.001). Furthermore, findings emphasize the importance of effective pain management as a means of improving sleep quality in this patient population.