Abstract

GUZMAN CAYADO, Mayque; BARRETO CRUZ, Tamara; CASANUEVA CABEZA, Manuel Francisco  and  PEREZ CHIL, Juan Carlos. Some clinical risk factors for amputation in a group of diabetic patients from Artemisa municipality. Rev Cubana Invest Bioméd [online]. 2006, vol.25, n.1, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3011.

A cross-sectional descriptive study was undertaken in order to know some risk factors for diabetic foot in a group of patients from Artemisa municipality. 30 family physicians’ offices were randomly selected. Of 457 diabetics, 419 were surveyed and examined (91.6 %) A database was made by using the MICROSTA computarized program and a significance level of p < 0.05 was set. A prevalence of females was observed (70.88 %). Mean age was 63,14 ± 14,29 years old vs. 62,41 ± 14,42 years old (females vs. males) (p=NS). Smoking was more frequent in males (36.89 %) than in females (13.18 %). A high incidence of sedentarism was found in the group. Previous amputation was more common in males (4.1 %) than in females (2.7 %). The presence of onychomycosis, podalic alterations, callosities, skin dryness, and an inadequate care of the nails were the main findings on examining the lower limbs in both sexes. Taking into consideration the predominance of patients over 60, among whom the appropriate care of the lower limbs is difficult due to obvious reasons, a thorough foot exam by the health care provider should be a compulsory step in every visit.

Keywords : Diabetes mellitus; diabetic foot; amputations.

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