Burden and geographical variation of peripheral neuropathy in India: insights from a large multi-regional screening study

Background: Peripheral neuropathy (PN) is a major cause of morbidity in India, yet it's true that community-level burden remains underreported. Understanding the distribution of neuropathy across demographic and regional subgroups is essential for targeted public health interventions. Aim and objectives to determine the prevalence and severity of PN in a large, diverse Indian population and to compare PN patterns across age, gender, diabetes status, and geographic regions. Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed data from 153,354 adults screened across all four zones of India. The study was designed by Corona Remedies Ltd., and data were collected by them. PN was assessed using a standardized bilateral foot scoring system with a Biothesiometer, and severity was classified as normal, mild, moderate, or severe. Demographic details (age, gender, region) and diabetes status were recorded. Prevalence estimates were calculated using descriptive statistics and stratified by key subgroups. Results: The overall prevalence of PN was 75.4%, with mild (53.9%) being the most common category, followed by moderate (16.8%) and severe (4.7%). PN prevalence was significantly higher among people with diabetes (90.1%) compared to non-diabetics (65.3%). Gender differences were minimal, with males showing slightly higher prevalence (75.8%). Wide zonal variation was observed, with PN prevalence ranging from 74.3% to 79.3%. The Eastern zone demonstrated the highest neuropathy prevalence at 79.3%, driven by a larger proportion of individuals with moderate (16.8%) and severe neuropathy (20.4%). Conclusions: Neuropathy is highly prevalent in the Indian population, with a significantly more substantial burden among people with diabetes. These findings highlight the need for early screening and targeted interventions for diabetic individuals to prevent neuropathy-related complications.