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.