TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2015//
TI  - Longitudinal patient-oriented outcomes in neuropathy: importance of early detection and falls
JO  - Neurology
A1  - Callaghan, Brian
A1  - Kerber, Kevin
A1  - Langa, Kenneth M.
A1  - Banerjee, Mousumi
A1  - Rodgers, Ann
A1  - McCammon, Ryan
A1  - Burke, James
A1  - Feldman, Eva
SP  - 71
EP  - 79
VL  - 85
IS  - 1
N2  - OBJECTIVE: To evaluate longitudinal patient-oriented outcomes in peripheral neuropathy over a 14-year time period including time before and after diagnosis. <br><br>METHODS: The 1996-2007 Health and Retirement Study (HRS)-Medicare Claims linked database identified incident peripheral neuropathy cases (ICD-9 codes) in patients ≥65 years. Using detailed demographic information from the HRS and Medicare claims, a propensity score method identified a matched control group without neuropathy. Patient-oriented outcomes, with an emphasis on self-reported falls, pain, and self-rated health (HRS interview), were determined before and after neuropathy diagnosis. Generalized estimating equations were used to assess differences in longitudinal outcomes between cases and controls. <br><br>RESULTS: We identified 953 peripheral neuropathy cases and 953 propensity-matched controls. The mean (SD) age was 77.4 (6.7) years for cases, 76.9 (6.6) years for controls, and 42.1% had diabetes. Differences were detected in falls 3.0 years before neuropathy diagnosis (case vs control; 32% vs 25%, p = 0.008), 5.0 years for pain (36% vs 27%, p = 0.002), and 5.0 years for good to excellent self-rated health (61% vs 74%, p < 0.0001). Over time, the proportion of fallers increased more rapidly in neuropathy cases compared to controls (p = 0.002), but no differences in pain (p = 0.08) or self-rated health (p = 0.9) were observed. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In older persons, differences in falls, pain, and self-rated health can be detected 3-5 years prior to peripheral neuropathy diagnosis, but only falls deteriorates more rapidly over time in neuropathy cases compared to controls. Interventions to improve early peripheral neuropathy detection are needed, and future clinical trials should incorporate falls as a key patient-oriented outcome.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0028-3878
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1212/WNL.0000000000001714
ID  - ref1
ER  -