Neuropathic pain screening for diabetes mellitus: a conceptual analysis

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ABSTRACT BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The assessment and early diagnosis of neuropathic pain associated to Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy has been a challenge in clinical practice, requiring the systematization of risk tracking through the identification of specific instruments to guide treatment. The objective of this study was to identify specific instruments for tracking neuropathic pain and Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy in order to build a protocol. CONTENTS: Integrative review using the indexed databases Scielo, Cochrane and Pubmed between 2007 and 2020, identifying the most used validated instruments in high predictive value for tracking Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy and neuropathic pain, building a specific protocol directing clinical treatment. 44 selected articles pointed out 14 different instruments for screening of Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy and neuropathic pain, most prevalent being: the Screening Instrument for Assessment of Peripheral Diabetic Neuropathy (MNSI), Leeds Assessment of Neuropathic Symptoms and Signs (LANSS) and Douleur Neuropathique (DN4) for clinical assessment of neuropathic pain and Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) for numerical pain assessment, highlighted by their predictive values above 80%. CONCLUSION: Such instruments enable the development of a neuropathic pain screening protocol that will assist in the early diagnosis of this complication in Diabetes, directing clinical and physiotherapeutic treatment.