Clinical profile of diabetic foot ulcers at the Jos University Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to be a growing health problem worldwide, and diabetic foot complications is one of the most  common causes of nontraumatic foot amputation and hospital admission among patients with DM. The objective of the study was to determine the  clinical profile of patients with Diabetic foot ulcers in Jos University Teaching Hospital.

Methods: This was a cross sectional study that evaluated adult patients with DM who presented with foot ulcerations to the Jos University Teaching Hospital over a 6 month period. The patients' socio-demographic characteristics, clinical presentation, grade of ulcer and comorbidities were noted.   

Results: Sixty-three patients with Diabetic foot ulcers were studied with a mean age of 57.43±13.76 years (Ranged 39-86 years) and a male: female ratio of 1.26 to 1. The median duration of DM history was 10 (Inter Quartile range IQR 3-14) years (range 1 - 40 years) before manifesting with foot  ulcers. The duration of the ulcers ranged between 2 to 16 weeks with a median of 8 (IQR of 4-8) weeks. The mean glycosylated haemoglobin was  10.74±14.7%. Majority had Neuroischaemic ulcers 19(30.9%). The commonest predisposing factor for DM foot ulcer was wearing of ill-fitting shoes  in 16(24.5%) patients, while in 28 (44.40%) there was no identifiable predisposing factor.

Conclusion: The study found that diabetic foot ulcer commonly affected middle age individuals with a slightly higher preponderance among men.  Most had Neuro-ischaemic ulcers, poor glycaemic control and wearing of Ill-fitting shoes a commonly observed predisposing factor.