INTRODUCTION: Peripheral neuropathy (PN) occurs in diabetes mellitus. However, the association between PN and rheumatic disease (RD) has not been fully investigated. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of PN in patients with RDs with or without Diabetes Mellitus. METHODS: A Cross-sectional cohort study, data extracted from patients medical records started in September 2023 to January 2024 in Abu Dhabi, UAE. A Sudoscan machine report was used to assess The electrochemical skin conductance (ESC), Sudomotor dysfunction is evaluated according to the ESC measured on the feet: >
60 μS = no dysfunction
60-40 μS = moderate dysfunction
and <
40 μS = severe dysfunction. RESULTS: Eighty-one patients with RDs, mean age 58 ± 12. There were 55 females (67.9%), and 26 males (32.1%) attended an ambulatory healthcare clinic in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Thirty-three (40.7%) had diabetes, while 48 (59.3%) did not have diabetes. The mean glycated haemoglobin A1c (HBA1c) was 7.4% in diabetic patients and 5.8% in non-diabetic patients Additionally, all patients had a mean blood pressure of 134/72 and a mean Body Mass Index (BMI) of 31.40 kg/m CONCLUSION: Sudomotor dysfunction appears to be common among patients with RD regardless they have diabetes or not. This study recommends screening all RD patients for Sudomotor Dysfunction.