Diabetic Foot Risk Factors & level in Diabetes People: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objective: Determining diabetic foot risk levels and risk factors and treating foot problems is one of the main components of the prevention of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). This study aimed to determine diabetic foot risk levels and risk factors in diabetic people. Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included ۲۷۸ participants during September ۲۰۲۰ to March ۲۰۲۱. The patients' general characteristics, peripheral sensory loss (۱۰ g-Semmes-Weinstein monofilament), foot skin temperature (palpation method) and vascular evaluation (pedal pulses) were examined. Results: Among ۲۷۸ patients, ۸۳ cases had DFU. Of those without DFU, ۳۳.۳% had risk level “۰”, ۳۵.۴% had risk level “۱”, ۲۳.۶% had risk level “۲” and ۷.۷% had risk level “۳”. In the regression analysis, male gender [OR= ۰.۷۴, ۹۵% CI (۰.۰۱۴-۰.۳۳۸), P= ۰.۰۰۲], education (literate) [OR= ۰.۳۸, ۹۵% CI (۰.۰۰۲-۰.۶۳۰), P= ۰.۰۲۲], foot examination by health professional [OR= ۰.۰۱۳, ۹۵% CI (۰.۰۰۱-۰.۱۸۳), P= ۰.۰۰۱], foot deformity [OR= ۰.۱۷۰, ۹۵% CI (۰.۰۴۲-۰.۶۷۹), P< ۰.۰۰۱], foot skin temperature (cold) [OR= ۰.۰۰۳, ۹۵% CI (۰.۰۰۰–۰.۰۲۶), P< ۰.۰۰۱], and pedal pulse [OR= ۸.۱۴۶, ۹۵% CI (۱.۵۰۵-۴۴.۰۸۱), P< ۰.۰۱۵] were found to have a high effect on diabetic foot development. Conclusion: The annual DFU rate is ۲۹.۸%. Independent risk factors of DFU were gender, education, previous history foot examination, foot skin temperature, pedal pulse and foot deformity. These findings provide support for a multifactorial etiology for DFU.

Keywords:

Diabetes , Foot , Risk factor , Risk assessment