Assessment of ulceration risk in diabetic individuals.

OBJECTIVE

To identify the risk factors for foot ulceration through the tracing of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and peripheral arterial disease in individuals with type I and II diabetes, who were assisted in reference centers of the Federal District, Brazil.

METHOD: a cross-sectional and analytical study, with the assessment of 117 individuals in outpatient clinics of the Federal District. Continuous variables were compared through Mann-Whitney test, and categorized variables, through Chi-square test for univariate analysis and Logistics regression test for multivariate analysis.

RESULTS

painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy was present in 37 (75.5%) of the individuals with neuropathy. Deformities and loss of protective plant sensibility were related to neuropathy (p=0.014 and p=0.001, respectively). Of the 40 (34.2%) individuals in the sample who presented peripheral arterial disease, 26 (65%) presented calcification risk.

CONCLUSION

signs of painful peripheral polyneuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, deformities, loss of protective plantar sensibility, and dry skin were identified as risk factors for ulceration.