Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with Diabetic Foot Ulcers among Diabetic Patients Attending Suez Canal University Hospitals
Shorok Gamal
Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
Abd-Raof El-Deib
Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
Fawzi A. Khalil
Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
Khalil A. Khalil
Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
Seham A. Omar
Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
Mohmed M. Abdou
Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
Hamdy Sliem *
Internal Medicine Department, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Diabetic patients are prone to multiple complications such as diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). There are many risk factors associated with DFUs that could be simply prevented.
Aim: Assessment of risk factors associated with Diabetic Foot Ulcers and their prevalence among diabetic patients attending Suez Canal University Hospitals.
Patients and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study carried in Diabetic and Endocrinology clinic of Suez Canal University Hospital where 68 patients with diabetic foot ulcers were examined. Patients were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to document clinical history. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software Ver. 22.
Results: The mean age was 58.29± 10.86 years. The most prevalent and significant risk factors were: absence of foot self-care (95.6%), poor foot health education (92.6%), wearing inappropriate shoes (89.7%), insulin dependent therapy (83.8%), poor compliance on diet or treatment (73.5%), poor glycemic control (72.1%), duration of diabetes more than 10 years (70.6%) and presence of peripheral neuropathy (67.6%) with P values <0.05%.
Conclusion: The most prevalent risk factors among DFUs patients were: absence of foot self-care, insufficient receiving foot health education and wearing in-appropriate shoes.
Keywords: Amputation, diabetes, foot, risk factors.