Muhammad Imtiaz Rasool, Hunza Binte Ather, Fakiha Wahla, Madeeha Maqbool.
A study of Risk Factors in Diabetic Foot Ulcer in a Tertiary Care Hospital and Strategy of Prevention.
J Akhtar Saeed Med Coll Jan ;1(1):24-8.

Objective: To identify common risk factors in diabetic patients who presented with foot ulceration and present a programme for their prevention. Methodology: This is a hospital based descriptive study. This study was conducted in the department of surgery Unit - I from Jan, 2015 to July, 2017 at Akhtar Saeed Trust Hospital Lahore 150 consecutive patients with a diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) were included in the study. Various risk factors such as age; gender; peripheral arterial disease; peripheral neuropathy; duration, control and type of diabetes; smoking and education about foot care were noted. During their stay at hospital glycemic control was achieved and diabetic ulcer was treated. Results: The majority of the patients were males with male to female ratio 3:1.The maximum number of patients were in the 6th decade (40%) followed by 5th decade (31%). All the patients except one were suffering from type 2 diabetes. Diabetic control was poor in 98% patients at the time of admission. Fifty percent of the patients were suffering from diabetes for more than 10 years. Fifty two percent patients were smokers. Peripheral neuropathy was noted in Eighty two percent patients, whereas peripheral pulses were palpable in 82 percent patients. 56% patients presented in Wageners grade 3 and 4Diabetic ulcer. Fifteen percent patients ended up with amputation. Eighty percent of the patients were not educated about foot care by the treating physician. 45 % patients were not aware of foot care. Screening and education of high risk patients are recommended. Conclusion: Males, smoking, peripheral neuropathy, long duration, poor control, type 2 diabetes and lack of knowledge about foot care are the main reasons for diabetic foot ulcer. Screening of high risk patients is recommended. Key Words. Risk factors, Smoking, Type 2 diabetes

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com