Diabetic foot ulcer among diabetic patients accessing care in a tertiary hospital in a poor resource setting: A snapshot

Background: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) is a severe and debilitating complication of diabetes mellitus, often leading to morbidity, prolonged hospitalization, and non-traumatic limb amputations. As a result, understanding the local burden of this complication is essential for improving preventive care and patient outcomes.

Objectives: To determine the frequency and determinants of diabetic foot ulcers among diabetic patients at Abia State University Teaching Hospital (ABSUTH).

Methodology: A retrospective study was conducted using medical records from ABSUTH covering the period from July 2024 to December 2024. The study included a sample of 152 diabetic patients. Data were analyzed to determine the overall prevalence rate and to identify distributions across demographic variables such as age and gender using statistical measures including the chi-square test.

Results: The prevalence of diabetic foot ulcers was found to be 10.5% (16 out of 152 patients). Analysis by sex revealed a higher prevalence among males (12.9%) compared to females (7.5%), though this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.275). Regarding age, the highest proportion of cases (13.0%) occurred in the 50–59 years age group, while patients aged 40–49 and 60+ showed prevalence rates of 7.7% and 8.8%, respectively.

Conclusion: The study indicates a moderate prevalence of diabetic foot ulcers at ABSUTH, aligning with broader Nigerian trends. The findings highlight that DFUs frequently affect middle-aged and male patients in this setting. These results underscore the need for targeted interventions and enhanced patient education on foot self-care to reduce the incidence and severity of this complication.