Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with Diabetic Foot Ulcers among Diabetic Patients Attending Suez Canal University Hospitals

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.