Validity and reliability of a point-of-care nerve conduction device in diabetes patients

Abstract

Aims/Introduction: Although nerve conduction study (NCS) using a standard electromyography system (EMGS) is considered to be the gold standard in evaluating diabetic polyneuropathy, this examination requires expensive equipment and well-trained technicians. We aimed to validate a point-of-care device, NC-stat/DPNCheck™, that has been developed for widespread use of NCS in diabetic polyneuropathy. Materials and Methods: Diabetes patients underwent two kinds of NCS: DPNCheck™ and electromyography system. Inter-/intrarater reliability of DPNCheck™ were also determined by the intraclass correlation coefficient. Results: A total of 57 patients were evaluated. The parameters of NCS between the two methods correlated well (r = 0.7734 for the sural nerve conduction velocity, r = 0.6155 for the amplitude of sural nerve action potential). The intraclass correlation coefficients were excellent (intrarater: the velocity 0.767, the amplitude 0.811; interrater: the velocity 0.974, the amplitude 0.834). Conclusions: The point-of-care device has excellent reproducibility and good agreement with standard electromyography system. The device might be useful to evaluate diabetic polyneuropathy.