2025 American Academy of Neurology Abstract Website

Objective:

This study aims to identify etiological trends, clinical presentations, management practices, and associated comorbidities among AANHPI patients diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy.

Background:

Peripheral neuropathy is a complex condition with various causes and presentations. While its management remains inconsistent, research on its clinical manifestation and treatment among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) populations is particularly limited. This study aims to explore etiological patterns, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, and treatment practices in AANHPI patients diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy to better understand and address health disparities within this demographic.

Design/Methods:

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from Hawaii Pacific Neuroscience, an outpatient neurology clinic. Key variables collected included patient demographics, comorbidities, possible etiological factors, clinical symptoms, and treatment plans. Statistical analyses were performed to uncover disparities in diagnosing, presenting, and managing peripheral neuropathy across different demographic groups.

Results:

This study included 310 patients, with 70.7% identified as AANHPI (39.4% NHPIs and 31.3% Asians). Diabetic neuropathy (n=283) was the most common cause, followed by idiopathic, toxic, and paraneoplastic neuropathy. Diabetic neuropathy was significantly more common among AANHPI patients (p<0.001), who were diagnosed approximately five years earlier than non-AANHPI patients (p<0.001). Furthermore, AANHPI patients presented with higher rates of obesity (p<0.001) and multiple comorbidities (p=0.002), particularly hypertension, type II diabetes, and a strong family history of diabetes (all p<0.001). Clinically, AANHPI patients reported more frequent muscle weakness (p=0.013) and numbness (p=0.018) and were more likely to receive physical therapy (p<0.001) and undergo multiple treatment modalities (p<0.001).

Conclusions:

The study reveals significant health disparities in the AANHPI population, with diabetic neuropathy as the leading cause of peripheral neuropathy. AANHPI patients experience earlier onset, more severe symptoms, and a higher burden of comorbidities, requiring more aggressive, multidisciplinary care. These findings underscore the need for improved prevention, treatment, and management strategies to reduce complications in this population.