Predictors of Foot Ulcers Among Diabetic Patients at a Tertiary Care Center, Egypt

• Main Authors: Galal YS, Khairy WA, Taha AA, Amin TT
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dove Medical Press 2021-09-01
• Series: Risk Management and Healthcare Policy
• Subjects: diabetic foot ulcers; comorbidities; peripheral vascular disease; foot deformities
• Online Access: https://www.dovepress.com/predictors-of-foot-ulcers-among-diabetic-patients-at-a-tertiary-care-c-peer-reviewed-fulltext-article-RMHP

Yasmine Samir Galal,1 Walaa Ahmed Khairy,1 Ahmed Ali Taha,2 Tarek Tawfik Amin1 1Public Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 2Vascular Surgery Consultant, National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Cairo, EgyptCorrespondence: Walaa Ahmed KhairyPublic Health and Community Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Kasr Alainy Street, Cairo, 11562, EgyptTel [phone]Email [e-mail] and Purpose: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) markedly contribute to morbidity and mortality of diabetic patients. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate the predictors of foot ulcers among Egyptian diabetic patients.Methods: A case-control study was conducted among 488 diabetic patients attending the inpatient departments and outpatient clinics at the National Diabetes Institute in Egypt. A pretested data collection sheet was designed to collect and record the following: socio-demographic data, diabetic history and lifestyle characteristics, recorded comorbidities, and the results of foot examination.Results: Significant positive predictors of DFUs on multivariate logistic regression analysis included presence of three or more comorbidities; two or more diabetic complications; callus; and flatfoot. Significant protective (negative) predictors were management of diabetes by diet, oral hypoglycemic drugs (OHGs), and insulin; and intact vibration sense.Conclusion: Significant positive predictors of DFUs on multivariate analysis were presence of three or more comorbidities, two or more diabetic complications, callus and flatfoot, while protective predictors were management of diabetes by diet, OHGs, and insulin; and intact vibration sense. Hence, close monitoring should be provided to diabetic patients with comorbidities and complications to reduce the risk of DFUs.Keywords: diabetic foot ulcers, comorbidities, peripheral vascular disease, foot deformities