Abstract: A retrospective chart review of 147 patients registered at a Middle-Eastern diabetic foot center (DFC) to assess prevalence, outcomes and predictors of diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) healing. Data were collected for: 1) demographic data; 2) lifestyle and clinical factors, such as smoking, diabetes-related factors, and medical history; 3) first assessment and management of DFU, including location, date of onset, Wagner grade, accompanying neurovascular abnormalities (pulse, sensory loss, etc), associated factors (neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, foot trauma), and management strategy; and 4) outcome data including healing/unhealing, recurrence, amputation and mortality. Appropriate statistical tests were used to explore factors of healing and binary logistic regression was used to analyze its predictors. Of the patients, 73.5% males, mean±SD age at first registration=53.90±16.43 years, mean±SD diabetes duration=11.33±7.53 years, with poor glycemic control in 33.3%. Foot ulcer was right located in 57.8%, with high Wagner grade (grade 4-5) in 32.2% cases. Healing was achieved in 64.6% of the patients, over 3.47±0.62 month duration from ulcer onset. Outcomes of healing included 20.0% of recurrence leading to 15.8% amputations, 2.1% of newly-onset ulcers and no mortality. Most significant predictors of healing included young age, urban setting, high educational level, fair-to-good glycemic control, absence of comorbidities, lower Wagner grade, and absence of neurovascular abnormalities. Healing of DFUs is achieved in 2 of 3 patients over a relatively short period with low recurrence and mortality rates. Low grade ulcers in young patients, who have good glycemic control and no significant comorbid conditions are more prone to healing.
Keywords: Diabetic Foot; Complications; Ulcer; Healing; Recurrence.
Title: Outcomes and Predictors of Healing of Diabetic Foot Ulcer in a Diabetic Foot Center in Western Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Study
Author: Salem Mohammed Barabie, Ahmed Salem M Barabie, Yazid Saleh Alharthy, Rafat Hassan Alansari, Abdulaziz Abdulrhman Alsolami, Mather jafar Alabduljabbar, Ahmed F Fathaldin Abdulkader, Faisal Mohammed Hassan Bin Shalhoub, Naif Muytiq
International Journal of Healthcare Sciences
ISSN 2348-5728 (Online)
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