Assessing the risk of peripheral neuropathy among male tobacco smokers with type 2 diabetes: a matched case-control study in an Arabic-speaking country

The increasing prevalence of diabetic complications and tobacco consumption are alarming worldwide. This study aimed to assess the association between tobacco smoking and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) among male smokers with type 2 diabetes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). In a matched case-control study, participants were recruited from two major hospitals in Sharjah. Male patients aged ≥18 years and diagnosed with DPN who had type 2 diabetes mellitus for at least one year were recruited. Age-(± 3 years)-matched controls were recruited for each case. Sociodemographic characteristics and self-reported data on physical activity, tobacco smoking were collected. Smoking status was assessed as current, past, or never. Medical and clinical data were collected from hospital records. An equal 140 of each cases and controls were included in the analysis, with a mean age of 63.75 ± 10.61 and 63.69 ± 10.50, respectively. The case group was more likely to smoke and had a longer smoking duration than the control group. After adjusting for all plausible confounders, the association between tobacco smoking and DPN was significant (past smokers [OR, 4.12; 95% CI 1.84–9.21], and current smokers [OR, 2.63; 95% CI 1.09–6.35]). This study found a significant association between tobacco consumption and DPN among males with diabetes in the UAE. Targeted smoking cessation programs are urgently needed.