Jiang AJ, Gu H, Feng ZR, et al. - A more reliable diagnostic utility for diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) is offered by QTc (heart rate-corrected QT) interval with 428.5ms vs nerve conduction velocity, and prolonged QTc interval is closely linked with elevated risk of DPN.

• This study included 965 patients with diabetes, including 473 patients with DPN, and 492 patients without DPN; they underwent standard 12-lead electrocardiography and detailed assessments of peripheral neuropathy.

• Longer QTc interval was detected in DPN cases vs those without DPN.

• In participants, from the first to fourth quartile of QTc interval, the proportion of DPN cases appreciably rose and the nerve conduction velocity obviously reduced.

• For DPN, the optimal cutoff point of QTc interval was 428.5ms, with sensitivity and specificity of 0.715 and 0.920, respectively.

• An increase in the AUC for diagnosis of DPN (from 0.736 to 0.916) was evident when QTc interval and nerve conduction testing were combined.