Prevalence of diabetic foot syndrome amongst population with type 2 diabetes in Pakistan in primary care settings

Objective: to determine the prevalence of diabetic foot syndrome in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients. methods: this cross-sectional study was conducted at 25 centres across eight cities in pakistan from august 2010 to march 2011,and comprised adult type 2 diabetics. the subjects underwent ankle brachial pressure index evaluation for diabetic foot,and neurological assessment using 10g monofilament for sensation and 128hz tuning fork to elicit vibration. results: of the 230 subjects,94(40.86%) were males and 136(59.13%) females. the overall mean age was 53.82±9.96 years and mean glycated haemoglobin was 8.81±2.04%. the prevalence of diabetic foot syndrome was 32(13.9%). based on established diabetic foot risk classification,37(16.08%) patients were in category-1,6(2.60%) in category-2,32(13.91%) in category-3 and 148(64.34%) in category-0. on ankle brachial pressure index assessment,94(40.86%) patients had impaired values (p<0.9). sensation was impaired in 50(21.73%) patients,vibrations could not be detected in 37(16.08%),ankle reflexes could not be elicited in 35(15.21%),and foot pulses could not palpated in 28(12.17%) patients. conclusions: a high prevalence of diabetic foot syndrome was observed. © 2017,pakistan medical association. all rights reserved.