title: Prevalence of toe nail onychomycosis in diabetic patients.
abstract: Onychomycosis among diabetic patients has been reported in some studies to be of high prevalence. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of onychomycosis among diabetic patients at a Danish University Hospital. Clinical and mycological examinations were performed on type 1 and 2 diabetic patients from in- and out-patient clinics. A total of 271 patients were enrolled, 72% males, mean age 61.3 years, 26% of the patients had diabetes type 1. The prevalence of toe nail onychomycosis (positive culture and/or microscopy) was 22% (n = 59) of which 55 cases were caused by dermatophytes (93%) and 4 cases by yeasts (7%). A correlation was found between onychomycosis and age (p =0.02) and severity of nail changes (p <0.001), respectively. However, no significant correlation was found to gender, type of diabetes, lower extremity arterial disease, neuropathy, toe amputation or oedema. Onychomycosis occurred with a high prevalence in diabetic patients, especially among older patients and those with severe nail changes.
authors.affiliation: Department for Bacteriology, Mycology and Parasitology, State Serum Institute, Unit of Mycology and Parasitology Building 45/112, Artillerivej 5, DK-2300 Copenhagen S, Denmark. dms@ssi.dk
authors.forename: Ditte Marie L
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Saunte
authors.forename: Jane B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Holgersen
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haedersdal
authors.forename: Gitte
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Strauss
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bitsch
authors.forename: Ole L
authors.initials: OL
authors.lastname: Svendsen
authors.forename: Maiken C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Arendrup
authors.forename: Else L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Svejgaard
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005533:Foot Dermatoses / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D015995:Prevalence