1. Risk assessment for foot ulcers among Tunisian subjects with diabetes: a cross sectional outpatient study
- Author
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Fadia Boubaker, Baha Zantour, Wafa Alaya, S. Bouchareb, Z. El Ati, W. Kossomtini, and Mohamed Habib Sfar
- Subjects
Adult ,Male ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Tunisia ,Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism ,030209 endocrinology & metabolism ,Physical examination ,Diabetic foot ulcer ,IWGDF classification ,Risk Assessment ,lcsh:Diseases of the endocrine glands. Clinical endocrinology ,Amputation, Surgical ,03 medical and health sciences ,0302 clinical medicine ,Diabetic Neuropathies ,Internal medicine ,Diabetes mellitus ,Diabetes Mellitus ,Medicine ,Humans ,030212 general & internal medicine ,Foot Ulcer ,Aged ,Diabetes Complication ,Univariate analysis ,lcsh:RC648-665 ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,General Medicine ,Middle Aged ,medicine.disease ,Prognosis ,Diabetic foot ,Diabetic Foot ,Cross-Sectional Studies ,Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ,Socioeconomic Factors ,Risk factors ,Screening ,Female ,business ,Foot (unit) ,Retinopathy ,Research Article - Abstract
Background Diabetic foot is an underestimated and redoubtable diabetes complication. The aims of our study were to assess diabetic foot ulcer risk factors according to International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) classification, stratify patients into risk categories and identify factors associated with higher-risk grade. Methods Cross-sectional setting over a period of 07 months, patients were randomly selected from the diabetic outpatients attending our unit of diabetology. Questionnaire and clinical examination were made by the same physician. Patients free of active foot ulcer were included. Results Among 230 patients evaluated, 10 had an active foot ulcer and were excluded. Five patients (2.27%) had a history of foot ulcer and 3(1.36%) had a lower-limb amputation. Sensory neuropathy, as measured by the 5.07(10 g) Semmes-Weinstein monofilament testing, was present in 23.63% of patients, whereas 36.82% had a peripheral arterial disease based on clinical findings, and 43.63% had foot deformities. According to the IWGDF classification, Group 0: 72.72%, Group 1: 5.9%, Group 2: 17.73% and Group 3: 3.63%. After univariate analysis, patients in higher–risk groups were significantly more often female, had higher age and BMI, longer diabetes duration, elevated waist circumference, low school level, retinopathy and hyperkeratosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified 3 significant independent factors associated with high-risk groups: retinopathy (OR = 2.529, CI95 [1.131–5.655], p = 0.024), hyperkeratosis (OR = 2.658, CI95 [1.222–5.783], p = 0.014) and school level (OR = 0.489, CI95 [0.253–9.44], p = 0.033). Conclusions Risk factors for foot ulceration were rather common in outpatients with diabetes. The screening of patients at risk for foot ulceration should start early, integrated with sustainable patient education.
- Published
- 2020
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