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The associations among hand dexterity, functional performance, and quality of life in diabetic patients with neuropathic hand from objective- and patient-perceived measurements

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Abstract

Purpose

To comprehend the associations among the dexterity and functional performance of the hands and quality of life in diabetic patients with neuropathic hands, via objective- and patient-perceived measurements.

Methods

The study participants were 144 diabetes patients who received objective evaluations, including the Purdue pegboard test, electrophysiological testing in sensory amplitude of the median nerve, and self-administrated measurements, including the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire (MHQ) and Diabetes-39 (D-39). Pearson’s and Spearman’s correlation tests were conducted to assess the relationships among hand neuropathy, hand dexterity and functions, and quality of life.

Results

The results show that the amplitude of the sensory nerve action potential of the median nerve was positively correlated with hand dexterity (r = 0.28–0.43; p < 0.01) and the total score of MHQ (r = 0.24–0.33; p < 0.01). Objective hand dexterity had mild to moderate relationships with most of the MHQ results, but only weak associations with some dimensions of the D-39 results. The MHQ results were negatively correlated with the D-39 scores, with mild to moderate relationships in the domains of energy/mobility and anxiety.

Conclusions

In comparison with diabetic feet, neuropathic diabetic hands are an easily neglected problem, with insufficient empirical evidence in the literature to indicate its impact on functional performance and quality of life. This study showed that lesions related to neural functioning in the diabetic hand may negatively influence dexterity and functional hand performance and thus also affect the quality of life.

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Acknowledgments

This research was aided by staff at the Family Medicine and General Medicine Department in Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Taiwan.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Allied Health Sciences, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Chien-Ju Yang & Li-Chieh Kuo

  2. Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan

    Hsiu-Yun Hsu

  3. Department of Internal Medicine, Chia-Yi Christian Hospital, Chia-Yi, Taiwan

    Chieh-Hsiang Lu

  4. Department of Occupational Therapy, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 701, Taiwan

    Yen-Li Chao & Li-Chieh Kuo

  5. Section of Plastic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan

    Haw-Yen Chiu

  6. Medical Device Innovation Center, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Li-Chieh Kuo

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  1. Chien-Ju Yang
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Correspondence to Li-Chieh Kuo.

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Yang, CJ., Hsu, HY., Lu, CH. et al. The associations among hand dexterity, functional performance, and quality of life in diabetic patients with neuropathic hand from objective- and patient-perceived measurements. Qual Life Res 24, 213–221 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-014-0748-y

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