Prevalence and healthcare costs associated with the management of diabetic foot ulcer in patients attending Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
BACKGROUND
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are non-traumatic lesions of the skin on feet of diabetic patients. DFU require appropriate investigations, dietary placement and clinical management. These constitute huge healthcare costs in DFU care.


OBJECTIVE
This study sought to determine the prevalence of DFU in relation to clinical, socio-demographic variables and healthcare costs expended.


METHODS
This was a retrospective study. Hence, medical records and healthcare costs of 1573 DFU-diagnosed patients who visited the diabetic clinic and medical wards of Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria were reviewed and analyzed for relevant data.


RESULTS
The prevalence of DFU in patients with diabetic mellitus (DM) was 6.0% with more cases in men (67.2%) than women (32.8%). The prevalence of DFU in relation to type of DM was 6.5% and 0% for DM type-II and DM type-I respectively. The distribution of DFU in relation to clinical stages was 40%, 25.7%, 17.1% and 11.4% for stages-IV, III, II and I. Patients in the age group 51-60 years had the highest frequency of DFU (28.6%), but there was no DFU in those 10-20 years and > 80 years. It required an average of 1808 US$ to successfully treat patients with DFU stage IV, while 1104 US$ and 556 US$ was required to treat DFU stage III and II respectively. Cost of procuring drugs covered the highest burden of total healthcare cost in managing DFU (35%-46%).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of DFU in DM patients attending ABUTH was high. Healthcare costs associated with DFU especially cost of drugs procurement contributed the highest financial burden in managing DFU.
Faculty of pharmaceutical Sciences, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Sokoto State, Nigeria.
Umar Mukhtar
UM
Danmusa
Department of Pharmaceutical Services Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital, Shika 06, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Iorliam
I
Terhile
Department of Medical Laboratory Services, University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, PMB 228 Gwagwalada, FCT Abuja, Nigeria.
Idris Abdullahi
IA
Nasir
Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, PMB 05, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
Auwal Alkasim
AA
Ahmad
Department of Chemical Pathology, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, PMB 3452 Zaria road, Kano state, Nigeria.
Habiba Yahaya
HY
Muhammad
Chemotherapy; Diabetic foot ulcer; Diabetic mellitus; Financial costs; Nigeria