ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcer is one of the most feared and common complications of diabetes. It is a major cause of disability, morbidity and mortality among diabetic patients and about 15% develop foot ulcers in their lifetime. Annual foot exam in diabetic patients and education on foot care is a cost effective way of preventing foot ulcers and amputations. METHODS: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital Diabetes Center on 200 participants using the 60 seconds diabetic foot ulcer screening tool from April to August 2014. RESULTS: A total of 200 patients were included in the study. The male to female ratio was 1 to 2.64 (55 to 145). The median age was 50 years (IQR, 39-59 years) and median duration of diabetes mellitus was 11 years (IQR, 6-11 years). Among the 200 patients, 169 (84.5%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus, whereas; 31(15.5%) had type 1 diabetes mellitus. Among the participants, only 9 (4.5%) had foot examination in the last 5 years. Thirty one (15.5%) participants had history of previous ulcer, 1 (0.5%) had history of amputation, 11 (5.5%) had deformity of shape and structure of the foot. Among the participants, 71 (35.5%) had at least one risk factor for the development of diabetic foot ulcer. CONCLUSION: Diabetic foot problems are common among the diabetic patients examined at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital Diabetic Center. Screening for diabetic foot ulcer is a very easy practice which will take maximum of 60 seconds per patient. Despite this fact it is barely practiced for outpatients visiting the diabetic clinics. We stress the need for a clinical diagnosis of diabetic foot ulcers using the 60 seconds screening tool.
Subject(s)
Diabetic Foot/prevention & control , Risk Assessment , Adult , Cross-Sectional Studies , Ethiopia , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Complications due to undetected and uncontrolled hypertension have been recorded to be devastating. Among these are cerebrovascular, cardiovascular and renal complications. Lack of data on the patterns of these complications, combined with the notion that hypertension is only a problem of developed nations, has resulted in missed opportunities for early detection and treatment. METHOD: A retrospective cross-sectional study was performed through medical chart review of 106 hypertension patients who were admitted with complications of hypertension at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital from Januaty 2013 to January 2014 E.C. RESULTS: A total of 106 medical charts of hypertensive patients were reviewed. Among the patients involved in the study, 51% were male, 45% were in their fifth and sixth decades and two third of them did not have any co morbidity. Sixty seven percent of these patients had cerebrovascular disease (stroke), 11% had stroke and hypertensive heart disease, 8% had stroke, hypertensive heart disease and chronic kidney disease (all three), and 5% had stroke with chronic kidney disease. However, there was no significant association between the considered variables and the outcome. CONCLUSION: This study has revealed most of the patients have stroke as a complication, therefore preventive or prophylactic measures should be encouraged to avail it.