Endocrine Abstracts

Aim: DASH questionnaire is a self-administered region-specific outcome instrument developed as a measure of self-rated upper-extremity disability and symptoms. The DASH consists mainly of a 30-item disability/symptom scale. In this study, we aimed to evaluate DASH Questionnaire in 1000 type two diabetes mellitus (DM) patients.

Material and methods: Fifty-eight patients (mean age 50±9.01 years, 34 women and 24 men) who had type II DM were included as a preliminary in this study. The presence of cheiroarthropathy, Dupuytren’s contracture, tinnel sign and tendinitis was assessed. Diabetic retinopathy was assessed by direct ophthalmoscopy. Urinary albumin excretion was determined in at least two 24 h urine samples. DASH questionnaire was administered to the diabetic patients. Direct measurements of parameters were performed with a Tanita body composition analyser. The bioimpedance parameters we measured were body fat percentage (%BF), total body fat (TBF) (kg) and BMI.

Results: The mean diabetic duration was 6.67±5.08 years. Dupuytren’s contracture was present in 5.2%, cheiroarthropathy in 15.5%, tinnel sign in 15.5% and tendinitis in 6.9%. Retinopathy was present in 10.3%, nephropathy in 8.6%. DASH score was 72.18±33.02. Mean BMI was 31.57±6.29. Mean TBF was 29.02±11.87 kg. Mean %BF was 33.73±10.14. There was positive correlation between DASH score and cheiroarthropathy, tinnel sign and tendinitis (P=0.008, r=350; P=0.002, r=406; P=0.001, r=445, respectively). There was positive correlation between DASH score and BMI and TBF and %BF (P=0.000, r=462; P=0.002, r=410; P=0.002, r=407, respectively). No correlation was found between DASH score and diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy.

Conclusions: DASH Questionnaire is useful instrument for measuring functional disability in upper extremity complaints of diabetes mellitus patients. It should also be taken into consideration in order to increase the quality of life in DM patients.