Pattern, causes and functional outcome of peripheral neuropathies in the Amazon region
Author Information
Author(s): Deschamps Nathalie, Nacher Mathieu, Preux Pierre-Marie, Takam Valérie, Blaizot Romain, Cenciu Beatrice, Sabbah Nadia, De Toffol Bertrand
Primary Institution: Centre Hospitalier Andree Rosemon, Cayenne, French Guiana
Hypothesis
The study aims to describe the characteristics of patients with peripheral neuropathies in the Amazon region and determine the factors associated with functional severity.
Conclusion
This study provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse causes of neuropathy in an Amazonian territory undergoing epidemiologic transition.
Supporting Evidence
- A total of 754 patients were included in the study.
- Diabetes was the most common cause of neuropathy, affecting 58.2% of patients.
- Mortality was 14.3% at 3 years.
- Guillain-Barre syndrome was significantly associated with functional severity.
- Infectious causes were significantly associated with severe PND scores after excluding GBS.
Takeaway
This study looked at why people in the Amazon region have nerve problems and found that many have issues because of diabetes and infections.
Methodology
A retrospective observational study was conducted at Cayenne Hospital, analyzing patient data from a hospital activity monitoring database between January 2015 and May 2023.
Potential Biases
The use of specific keywords for patient selection may have led to an over-representation of certain neuropathy causes.
Limitations
The study is retrospective and may have missed cases from isolated regions, leading to potential underrepresentation of some causes of peripheral neuropathies.
Participant Demographics
The mean age of participants was 60 years, with a predominance of women (53.6%).
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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