Evaluation of neuropathy at the feet in patients whichhemodialysis with chronic kidney disease

This study was planned to evaluation of neuropathy in the feet of patients which undergoing hemodialysis due to end-stage kidney disease. The study included in 111 hemodialysis patients. (Group-I) 35 hemodialysis patients without diabetes mellitus, (Group-II) 26 hemodialysis patients with diabetes mellitus, and (Group-III) 50 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without chronic kidney disease. The study was carried out in "Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University (ZBEU) Health Application and Research Center Hemodialysis Unit" and "Zonguldak Ataturk State Hospital Hemodialysis Unit" and "ZBEU Obesity and Diabetes Application and Research Center Podology Unit". The diagnostic criteria that, presence of subjective symptoms, Semmes Weinstein monofilament examination, vibration detection thresholds with diapasone and biotesiometer, and presence of achilles reflex, used in the diagnosis of neuropathy were recorded in the data collection form. Descriptive statistics of continuous variables in the study were shown by means. standard deviation, median, minimum and maximum values; and categorical variables shawn by frequency and percentage. The suitability of the continuous variables to normal distribution was examined by Shapiro wilk test. Mann Whitney-U test was used for comparison of two groups of variables that did not show normal distribution, Kruskal Wallis test was used for comparisons of 3 or more groups, and Bonferonni corrected Mann Whitney U test was used for comparisons of 2 subgroups. Pearson chi-square test was used to compare qualitative variables between groups. In all statistical analyzes in the study, p values less than 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Neuropathy was detected in 17% of Group-I patients, 69% of Group-II patients and 24% of Group-III patients. The rate of neuropathy in Group II was significantly higher than Group-I and Group-III (p <0.001). There was no significant difference between Group-I and Group-III (p >0.05). As a result; Since neuropathy is seen frequently in hemodialysis patients without diabetes mellitus, we think that regular podological foot examination and evaluation of neuropathy should be appropriate for hemodialysis patients.