Abstract
Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a complaint with often unidentified reasons. Some medicines, including statins therapy, are anticipated to be amongst the reasons for PN.
This study intended to assess the association of peripheral neuropathy with statins therapy amongst Type 2 diabetic patients.
At Penang General Hospital, 757 cases were categorized into two groups (564 with statins therapy and 193 without statins therapy). The diagnosis of PN was investigated retrospectively for a period of 10 years (2006–2016). Confounding risk factors as age, diabetes period, hypertension, glycemic control, other co-morbidity, and prescriptions were matched.
About 129 (22.9%) cases from 564 statins users had PN. Only 30 (15.5%) subjects had PN from 193 statins non-users. Chi-square test showed a significant variance among statins treatment cohort and statin-free cohort in the occurrence of PN (P-value: 0.001). Spearman’s investigation presented a positive correlation (r: 0.078, p-value: 0.031) among statins use and PN prevalence. Binary logistic regression was statistically significant for statins therapy as a predictor of peripheral neuropathy incidence (r2: 0.006, p-value: 0.027) amid diabetic patients. The relative risk of peripheral neuropathy connected with statins therapy is (RR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.02–2.11). The excess relative risk is 47.1%. While the absolute risk (AR) is 7.3% and the number needed to harm (NNH) is 14.
The study indicated a positive association between peripheral neuropathy and statins utilization. Peripheral neuropathy was higher amongst statins users than the statins-free group.
•In 757 patients with Type 2 diabetes; those on statin therapy were compared to those not on statin therapy for the presence of peripheral neuropathy.•The identification of peripheral neuropathy was examined retrospectively for an interval of 10 years.•Among patients with Type 2 diabetes, statin treatment was associated with a significant risk of developing peripheral neuropathy after matching for multiple confounders.