Risk factor and Outcomes of Diabetic Foot Ulcer among Diabetes Mellitus Patients Admitted to Nekemte Referral Hospital, Western Ethiopia:Prospective cohort study

Abstract Background:Foot problems are very common in people with diabetes affecting up to 15% of diabetic patients during their lifetime throughout the world. Foot ulcers significantly contribute to morbidity and mortality of patients with diabetes mellitus. The diabetic patients with foot ulcers require long-term hospitalization and carry the risk of limb amputation. Despite this, no study has been done on risk factor and outcomes of diabetic foot ulcer in NRH. Methods: A general prospective cohort study of diabetes mellitus patients who had diabetic foot ulcer was conducted among diabetes patients of Nekemte referral hospital (NRH) from March15 to June 15, 2018. The Wagner classification of diabetic foot ulcer was used to assess the severity of foot ulcers. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the associations between dependent variable and independent variables. Results: Over the study period, 115 diabetes foot ulcer patients were admitted to the Nekemte referral hospital; of these patients, 35(30.43%) were under gone (minor and major amputations) and 80(69.57%) were healed. Grade of diabetic foot ulcerAOR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.604, 4.789,inappropriate antibioticsAOR = 2.526; 95% CI: 1.767, 8.314, Overweight AOR = 2.767; 95% CI: 1.827, 9.252, obesity AOR = 3.020; 95% CI: 2.556, 16.397,blood glucose controlAOR = 2.592; 95% CI: 1.937, 7.168, and neuropathy AOR = 1.565; 95% CI: 1.508, 4.822 were found to be a risk factor for amputation in multivariable logistic regression analysis. Conclusion: Blood glucose level, higher body mass index (BMI), inappropriate antibiotics given, neuropathy, and advanced grade of diabetic foot ulcer were independent predictors of amputation. Provision of special emphasis for patients having neuropathy and advanced grade of diabetic foot ulcer, decreasing excessive weight gain, managing hyperglycemia, and appropriate antibiotics prescription practice would decrease outcomes of diabetic foot ulcer. Key words:Diabetic Foot Ulcer, Risk Factors, Outcomes,Nekemte Referral hospital