Sequelae of Hospitalization for Diabetic Foot Ulcers at LASUTH Ikeja Lagos: A Prospective Observational Study.

Abstract: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) remain important sequelae of diabetes (DM) which cause debilitating effects on the sufferer. The evolution of some aspects of epidemiology and the current clinical impact of DFUs was examined. Methods: A single-center prospective observational study. Study subjects were consecutively recruited. Results: Total medical admissions during the study period were 2288, 350 were DM related, out of these 112 were admitted for DFU. 32% of total DM admissions were for DFU. The mean age of the study subjects is 58 ± 11.0 range is from 35 years to 87 years. Males were slightly predominant (51.8%). Most of them were actively employed (92%), and the majority were in the 55 to 64 years age category. Most of them had not been diabetic for longer than 8 years (61%). The mean duration of DM is 8.32±7.27 years. The mean duration of ulcer at presentation was 72.0±138.13 days. The majority of the patients (80.3%) presented with severe (grades 3 to 5) ulcers, Wagner grade four was the most predominant. Regarding clinical outcome, 24 (24.7%) had an amputation, 3 of which were minor. The factor that was associated with amputation was concomitant heart failure - OR 6.00 CI 0.589-61.07, 0.498-4.856. Death occurred in 16 (18.4%). The factors associated with mortality were severe anemia OR 2.00 CI 0.65 - 6.113, severe renal impairment requiring dialysis OR 3.93 CI 0.232-66.5, concomitant stroke OR 8.42 CI 0.71-99.6, and peripheral arterial disease- OR 18.33 CI 2.27 -147 p-value- 0.006. Conclusion: The hallmark of DFU in this report is late presentation, it accounted for a significant proportion of the total medical admissions, although the case fatality of DFU reduced from previous reports from the center, mortality, and amputation rates are still unacceptably high. Concomittant heart failure was a factor of amputation. Mortality was associated with severe anemia, renal impairment and peripheral arterial disease.

Predictors of intra-hospital mortality in patients with diabetic foot ulcers in Nigeria: data from the MEDFUN study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are associated with high morbidity and mortality globally. Mortality in patients hospitalized for DFU in Nigeria is unacceptably high. This study was undertaken to determine factors that predict mortality in patients hospitalized for DFU in Nigeria. METHODS: The current study was part of Multi-centre Evaluation of Diabetic Foot Ulcer in Nigeria (MEDFUN), an observational study conducted in six tertiary healthcare institutions across the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Consecutive type 1 or 2 diabetic patients hospitalized for DFU who consented to participate were recruited and subjected to relevant clinical, biochemical, and radiological assessments and multidisciplinary care until discharge or death. Data for type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients were expunged from current mortality analysis due to their small number. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-three type 2 DM subjects with mean age and mean duration of DM of 57.2 ± 11.4 years and 8.7 ± 5.8 years respectively participated in this study. The median duration of ulcers was 39 days with a range of 28 to 54 days and the majority (79.9%) presented with advanced ulcers of at least Wagner grade 3. Mortality of 21.4% was recorded in the study, with the highest mortality observed among subjects with Wagner grade 5. Variables significantly associated with mortality with their respective p values were DM duration more than 120 months (p 0.005), ulcer duration > 1 month (p 0.020), ulcer severity of Wagner grade 3 and above (p 0.001), peripheral arterial disease (p 0.005), proteinuria (p < 0.001), positive blood cultures (p < 0.001), low HDL (p < 0.001), shock at presentation (p < 0.001), cardiac failure (p 0.027), and renal impairment (p < 0.001). On Multivariate regression analysis, presence of bacteraemia (OR 5.053; 95% CI 2.572-9.428) and renal impairment (OR 2.838; 95% CI 1.349-5.971) were significantly predictive of mortality independent of other variables. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed high intra-hospital mortality among patients with DFU, with the majority of deaths occurring among those with advanced ulcers, bacteraemia, cardiac failure, and renal impairment. Prompt attention to these factors might help improve survival from DFU in Nigeria.

Determinants of wound healing in patients hospitalized for diabetic foot ulcer: results from the MEDFUN study.

OBJECTIVE: The high amputation rates from diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) in Nigeria and prolonged hospitalization due to poor wound healing is a source of concern. Furthermore, factors that affect wound healing of DFUs have not yet been well studied in Nigeria, whereas knowing these factors could improve DFU outcomes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the factors that are associated with the wound healing in patients hospitalized for DFU. METHODS: The Multi-Center Evaluation of Diabetic Foot Ulcer in Nigeria (MEDFUN) was an observational study involving 336 diabetic patients hospitalized for DFU and managed by a multi-disciplinary team until discharge or death. Demographic, clinical, and biochemical characteristics were documented. Test statistics used were chi square, t-test, univariate, and multivariate logistic regression. The study endpoints were ulcer healing, LEA, duration of hospitalization, and mortality. Here we present data on wound healing. RESULTS: The mean ± SD age was 55.9±12.5 years. Univariate predictors of wound healing were ulcer duration more than 1 month prior to hospitalization (p<0.001), peripheral arterial disease (PAD) (p<0.001), foot gangrene (p<0.001), Ulcer grade ≥3 (p=0.002), proteinuria (p=0.005), anemia (p=0.009), renal impairment (p=0.021), glycated hemoglobin ≥7% (0.012), and osteomyelitis (p<0.001). On multivariate regression, osteomyelitis was the strongest independent predictor of wound healing after adjusting for all other variables (OR 0.035; 95% CI 0.004-0.332). This was followed by PAD (OR 0.093; 95% CI 0.028-0.311), ulcer duration >1 month (OR 0.109; 95% CI 0.030-0.395), anemia (OR 0.179; 95% CI 0.056-0.571). CONCLUSION: Presence of osteomyelitis, duration of ulcer greater than 1 month, PAD, Wagner grade 3 or higher, proteinuria, presence of gangrene, anemia, renal impairment, and HbA1c ≥7% were the significant predictors of wound healing in patients hospitalized for DFU. Early identification and prompt attention to these factors in a diabetic foot wound might significantly improve healing and reduce adverse outcomes such as amputation and death.

Anemia in patients with diabetic foot ulcer and its impact on disease outcome among Nigerians: Results from the MEDFUN study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a life-long and debilitating disease that is fraught with both acute and chronic complications. Of particular concern to sufferers of the disease is the development of foot problems. These problems range from foot deformities to slowly healing or non-healing ulcers (that may necessitate amputation) and in the worst-case scenario, to death. Identification and prompt treatment of comorbid conditions, such as anemia may improve outcome in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). We determined the prevalence of anemia in Nigerians with DFU and its impact on disease outcome. METHODS: We prospectively followed 336 patients with diabetes hospitalized for DFU and managed by a multidisciplinary team until discharge or death. Demographic and diabetes-related information and ulcer characteristics were documented. We evaluated each patient for neuropathy, vasculopathy and medical co-morbidities. Relevant laboratory and imaging studies were performed. We present the results of the sub-group analysis of patients with anemia to determine its prevalence and impact on disease outcome in patients with DFU in the MEDFUN study. RESULTS: Anemia was detected in 180(53.6%) subjects with 88(48.9%) of them requiring blood transfusion. Significant demographic and clinical determinants of anemia were ulcer duration more than one month prior to hospitalization (p<0.009), PAD (p<0.001) and presence of gangrene (p<0.001). The comorbid conditions that were significantly associated with anemia included proteinuria (p<0.003), osteomyelitis (p<0.006), moderate (p<0.002) as well as severe (p<0.001) vascular stenosis, history of stroke (p<0.014) and renal impairment (p<0.002). Anemia was significantly associated with poor wound healing (p<0.009), amputation (p<0.036) and risk of death (p<0.034). CONCLUSION: We detected anemia in more than half of our cohort with DFU. We found significant association between anemia and poor wound healing, amputation and mortality among our studied subjects. Future studies should explore whether prompt correction of anemia in subjects hospitalized for DFU would improve outcome.

Pattern of Obesity Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes at a Tertiary Healthcare Center in Northern Nigeria.

PURPOSE: Type 2 diabetes poses a major global health threat both in the developed and developing countries. Factors responsible for the soaring epidemic of T2DM in the developing countries include urbanization, ageing population, physical inactivity and increasing obesity rates. Our aim was to determine the pattern of obesity among patients with T2DM at the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH), Kano, Northwestern Nigeria. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We consecutively recruited 220 patients with type 2 diabetes attending the diabetes clinic of AKTH for the study. Patients with Type 1 diabetes, patients who could not stand or are wheelchair bound and pregnant women were excluded from the study. A pretested questionnaire was used to collect data on socio-demographic characteristics, treatment history for diabetes and history of hypertension from each participant. RESULTS: Of the 220 patients recruited for this study, 97(44.1%) were men, while 123(55.9%) were women. The prevalence of generalized obesity among the study participants was 27.4% (women -30.9% vs men- 22.7%, X2=4.76, p=0.190). Grades I. II and III obesity were found in 17.3%, 5.9% and 3.2% of the study participants, respectively. All the participants with grade III obesity were women. Central obesity defined by WC was detected in 111(50.5%) [20(20.6%) men and 91(73.9%) women, X2=1.93, p=0.001]. Obesity defined by WHR was recorded in 182(82.7%) participants [80(43.9%) men and 102(56.0%) women, X2= 1.97, 0.001]. Using a cut-off of ≥0.5, abnormal WhtR was detected in 179(81.4%) [72(40.2%) men and 107(59.8%) women, X2= 5.82, p=0.01], while using a cut-off of ≥0.6, abnormal WhtR was detected in 84(38.2%) participants [29 (34.5%) men and 55(65.5%) women, X2=6.38, p=0.09]. Hypertension was detected in 103(46.8%) participants, with a higher prevalence among women compared with men [46.3. % vs 47.4%, X2= 1.03 p=0.87]. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of obesity in our cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes was high. The predominant form of obesity was central obesity, which was most prevalent when indexed by WHR. The WhtR was as good as the WHR, but fared better than WC in detecting central obesity in our patients.

Androgen Deficiency in Aging Male Questionnaire for the Clinical Detection of Testosterone Deficiency in a Population of Black Sub-Saharan African Men with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Is it a Reliable Tool?

BACKGROUND: Androgen Deficiency in Aging Male (ADAM) questionnaire is increasingly popular for the evaluation of testosterone deficiency (TD) in Sub-Saharan African men with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, its reliability in this population is unknown. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the reliability of the ADAM questionnaire for the clinical detection of testosterone deficiency in Sub-Saharan African men with T2DM. METHODS: Total testosterone < 8nmol/L was used as gold standard for diagnosis of TD in a crosssectional survey of 200 males with T2DM aged 30-69 years. Participants also completed the Saint Louis University ADAM questionnaire whereby TD was diagnosed by a "yes" answer to question 1 (reduced libido) or 7 (erectile dysfunction) or any other three questions. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV) and overall accuracy of the ADAM tool were computed. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 58.0 ± 8.8 years. 142 subjects (71.0%) had TD based on the ADAM questionnaire. However, TD was biochemically confirmed in 59 subjects (29.5%). ADAM questionnaire rendered sensitivity of 88.1%, specificity of 44.7%, PPV of 50.0%, NPV of 85.7% and accuracy of 61.4%. Low libido alone had better specificity (75.5%) and accuracy (73.2%) than the entire questionnaire. CONCLUSION: Despite an impressive sensitivity, the low specificity and overall accuracy of the ADAM questionnaire makes it unreliable for the detection of AD in Sub-Saharan African men with type 2 DM. However, presence of a sustained low libido appears to be a reliable pointer to underlying testosterone deficiency requiring biochemical confirmation.

Self Monitoring of Blood Glucose Among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Eastern Nigeria: Need for Multi-strategic Interventions.

BACKGROUND: Self Monitoring of Blood Glucose (SMBG) is a useful adjunct to lifestyle modification and medications for optimal management of type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM). This study was aimed at evaluating the practice, cost and associations of SMBG in subjects with type 2 DM in Enugu, Nigeria. METHODS: In a cross-sectional survey conducted at the diabetes clinic in three hospitals, 366 type 2 diabetic subjects aged 18-65 years were consecutively interviewed. Socio-demographic and clinical information were documented and glycated hemoglobin was performed for all the participants. RESULTS: A total of 318 subjects with mean age of 49.0 ± 9.4 years completed the study. 304 subjects (95.6%) reported that they were aware of SMBG and 60.7% practiced SMBG at frequencies ranging from ≥ 1/day (7.9%), ≥ 1/week (26.1%) or < 1/week (26.7%). 39.3% of the respondents did not perform any SMBG. Lack of finance was the predominant reason for not performing any SMBG. The median monthly cost of performing SMBG excluding the cost of meters was N2,000 (USD 6.7) per patient, amounting to annual societal cost of N37.8 billion (USD 126 million). Significant associates of performing any SMBG were longer DM duration, previous participation in diabetes education, insulin treatment and infrequent hospitalization. CONCLUSION: Despite high awareness, SMBG practice is grossly inadequate and is associated with a huge economic burden that may be unsustainable in a resource-poor country like Nigeria. Measures aimed at reducing the cost of glucometers and strips, and improving diabetes education are recommended.

Graves' Thyrotoxicosis Presenting as Schizophreniform Psychosis: A Case Report and Literature Review.

Psychosis, as the first presentation of thyrotoxicosis, is extremely rare. Consequently, it is often misdiagnosed as a primary psychiatric disorder, especially in developing countries with poor healthcare facilities. Owing to the high level of illiteracy and lack of knowledge, it is fairly common to ascribe many illnesses to spiritual attacks in Nigeria and other African countries, especially when the disease is rarely seen or is associated with psychiatric manifestations. Herein, we present the case of a teenage female Nigerian and review the literature on this subject.