Background: Diabetic foot is the final event of chronic complications of diabetes mellitus (DM), including diabetic vasculopathy and neuropathy. Whether isolated or not, these events pose difficulties for diabetic patients' feet and make them vulnerable. Aim: The present study was to identify the type of diabetic foot and the risk factors in outpatients of a tertiary-care general hospital. Methods: Cross-sectional and retrospective study. Data were collected from medical records. We included 1,189 patients with type 1 and 2 DM who had their feet examined for the first time by the nursing staff between 1997 and 2008. We used a convenience sample and data were collected in two phases: first we analyzed the data recorded after the first examination, and then we analyzed the medical records. Results: DM2 was present in 93.1% of the patients, of whom 87.5% were Caucasians, 50.1% were women, 33.1% were retired, and 66.6% had at most 8 years of schooling and married. In our sample, 676 patients had diabetic feet (27% neuropathic and 28.3% mixed) and 69.5% were men (P=0.001). Mean glycated hemoglobin was 7.83±2.16 and the patients with diabetic feet had a longer duration of DM (12.6 years), were older (63 years) and smokers, had some degree of retinopathy, nephropathy, and ischemic heart disease. All these findings showed statistical significance (P=0.001). Conclusion: Multiple direct and indirect risks factors for the development of ulcers were found in these patients. These factors may increase the chance of amputations leading to high personal and social cost.

Introdução: O pé diabético é o evento final das complicações crônicas do diabetes melito (DM) e inclui vasculopatia e neuropatia diabética. Isoladamente ou em conjunto, representam uma problemática para os pés dos pacientes tornando-os vulneráveis. Objetivo: Identificar o tipo de pé e seus fatores de risco em pacientes ambulatoriais de um hospital geral de atenção terciária. Métodos: Estudo transversal e retrospectivo, sendo realizado em prontuários. Incluiu-se 1189 pacientes, DM 1 e 2 que tiveram seus pés examinados pela primeira vez na consulta de enfermagem de 1997 a 2008. A amostra foi por conveniência e os dados foram coletados em duas etapas: 1)de um livro de registros preenchido após o primeiro exame; 2)dos prontuários dos pacientes. Resultados: Apresentaram DM2 93,1% dos pacientes, 87,5% caucasianos, 50,1% de mulheres, aposentados (33,1%), até oito anos de estudo e casados (66,6%). Tinham pés alterados 676 pacientes (neuropáticos e mistos 27%/28,3%), 69,5% de homens, (P=0,001). A média da hemoglobina glicada foi 7,83±2,16 e os com alterações nos pés tinham mais tempo de duração da doença (12,6 anos), eram mais idosos (63 anos) e tabagistas, tinham algum grau de retinopatia, nefropatia, cardiopatia isquêmica, os achados com significância estatística (P=0,001). Conclusão: Múltiplos fatores de risco diretos e indiretos para o desenvolvimento de úlceras foram identificados nos pacientes, os quais podem aumentar o risco de amputações trazendo um custo pessoal e social elevados.