QUALITY OF LIFE IN PRESURGICAL PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SOUTH INDIA

Dr. P. NELLAIAPPAR; SUMITHA MARCUS; Dr. A.P. SELVAM; SONIA SIMS; THADDEUS ALFONSO

Volume : VII, Issue : XI, November - 2018

QUALITY OF LIFE IN PRESURGICAL PATIENTS WITH DIABETIC FOOT ULCERS AT A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL IN SOUTH INDIA

Dr. P. Nellaiappar, Sumitha Marcus, Dr. A. P. Selvam, Sonia Sims, Thaddeus Alfonso

Abstract :

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers remain as a significant factor of mortality while having adverse effect on quality of life in patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at the Hand and Reconstructive Microsurgery Department in a Tertiary Care Hospital, Chennai. We used a proforma, consisting of socio-demographic variables, Wagner Ulcer Classification and WHOQOL-BERF, for data collection and SPSS Version 20 for analysis.

Results: Respondents consisted of 118 DFU patients with type 2 DM of which 72% male and 27% female. About 51%were in Grade 3 of Wagner Ulcer Classification with abscessed deep ulcers, osteomyelitis, or joint sepsis. While a majority of male patients had poor QOL in the physical domain, a majority of female patients had poor QOL in the environment domain. Multiple regression analysis showed that higher grade of ulcer decreased the quality of life in presurgical patients with DFUs (p=0.000).

Conclusion: QOL in patients with DFUs can be increased by reporting to the surgical department at an early stage of the ulcer.