Follow-up of patients with diabetic foot in a highly complex hospital in northern Peru

Abstract

Introduction. Diabetic foot is a frequent complication of diabetes. Data are scarce in northern Peru. Objective. To describe the clinical evolution of the diabetic foot in a hospital in Lambayeque-Peru, between 2018 and 2019. Methods. Descriptive, prospective study. The patients were recruited by emergency/consultation and followed by the diabetic foot unit through daily visits and dressings. Results. Follow-up from August 2018 to October 2019. There were 136 patients; median age: 63 years (IQR = 54-86) and 50.38% were men. The median number of years with diabetes and hospitalization time was 10 years and 10 days; 40% and 21% had trauma and previous amputation. The frequencies of high blood pressure, diabetic nephropathy, chronic kidney disease, previous acute coronary syndrome and cerebrovascular event were: 52.9%, 26.4%, 33.3%, 2.9% and 16.6%, respectively; 50.7% had involvement of the right foot, 58.1% of the left and 8.6% of both. The most frequent initial Wagner was IV: 30.16%, followed by II: 25.40% and the most frequent final was IV: 42.15% followed by II: 22.31%. 41.22% were amputated, mayor amputations: 28.24% and minor amputations 11.8%; 25.6% were supracondylar; 39.6% had sepsis, 38.58% unfavorable evolution and 9.44% died. In amputees, the median number of days before amputation was 12. Conclusions. the frequency of amputation and mortality was higher than in previous studies. There was a high frequency of unfavorable evolution: amputation/death or worsening of gangrene.