A Study on Diabetic Foot Disorders in Basrah, Southern Iraq: A Study on Diabetic Foot Disorders in Basrah, Southern Iraq

Majid Alabbood, Alzahraa College of Medicine, University of Basrah, Basrah, Iraq.Follow
Abdulhussein Marzoq, Alfayhaa Teaching Hospital, Basrah, Iraq.Follow

Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot disorders (DFD) involve several pathologies affecting the foot of patients suffering with diabetes, such as diabetic peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, foot deformity, diabetic foot ulcer and amputation._x000D_ Objectives: To measure the prevalence and associated risk factors of DFD in a cohort of patients in Basrah, Iraq._x000D_ Methods: This is a cross sectional study that was performed in Basrah Province, Iraq, from 1/1/2019 to 1/8/2019. Patients with diabetes attending Faiha Specialized Diabetes Endocrine and Metabolism Center were screened for DFD. The participants were divided into four groups according to the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot Classification. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25 software._x000D_ Results: A total of 121 participants (69 females (57%)) were included. Their mean age was 53.7 ± 12.3 years. The mean duration of diabetes was 8 ± 0.6 years and the mean HbA1c was 9.6 ± 2.3%. Those with type 2 diabetes represented 115 (95%) of the total number and 63 (52%) were on insulin-based regimes. Twenty-six (21.5%) patients had callosity. The patients were classified as having no DFD, neuropathy, neuropathy with peripheral artery disease and/or foot deformity and neuropathy with a history of ulcer or amputation at frequencies of 29.8%, 52.1%, 9.1% and 9.1%, respectively. Females and patients with longer diabetes durations were identified as predictors of DFD; the p values were 0.008 and 0.019, respectively. Additionally, no significant association was detected between DFD and the type of diabetes, age and glycemic control._x000D_ Conclusions: Approximately two-thirds of the patients with diabetes have DFD in Iraq. DFD were strongly associated with long duration of diabetes and the female gender. It is crucial to conduct a proper and thorough foot examination and screen all patients with diabetes for DFD at their visit to the clinic. Such an examination may prevent the development of active disease, ulcers and, consequently, amputation._x000D_

Keywords

Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Foot, Peripheral Neuropathy

Recommended Citation

Alabbood, Majid and Marzoq, Abdulhussein (2021) "A Study on Diabetic Foot Disorders in Basrah, Southern Iraq: A Study on Diabetic Foot Disorders in Basrah, Southern Iraq," Iraqi National Journal of Medicine: Vol. 3 : Iss. 2 , Article 2.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.37319/iqnjm.3.2.2