Risk stratification for diabetic foot in a population of elderly attended in primary health care

Abstract

Objective: To assess the risk stratification for diabetic foot in an elderly population followed up in primary care. Method: This is a cross-sectional, analytical study with a quantitative approach. Home visits were made to 254 elderly people for neurological (plantar protective sensitivity and neuropathic symptoms), dermatological and vascular (pulses and ankle brachial index) evaluation. Results: A substantial portion (95.3%) of the participants reported some neuropathic symptom, especially fatigue (67.4%). Most were at risk for diabetic foot (64.1%), with a predominance of grade 1 (43.7%); were smokers (71.9%), had musculoskeletal comorbidity (57.8%) and had already suffered a stroke (75%). People with risk levels 2 and 3 had had the diagnosis for between 10-19 years (78.1%). Conclusion: A large part of the sample had some degree of risk for diabetic foot, in particular grade 1, and the presence of musculoskeletal comorbidity.