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Topic: Toenail onychomycosis is known as a risk factor for acute bacterial cellulitis and subsequent ulceration particularly for diabetic patients. While it is important to provide appropriate care to prevent toenail onychomycosis in diabetic patients, there have been few studies regarding this problem.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with toenail onychomycosis in diabetic patients.
Methodology: We examined the prevalence and severity of toenail onychomycosis and related factors in the right hallux toenails of diabetic outpatients of theUniversity Hospital . The nail thickness was evaluated as an indicator of severity of onychomycosis. Presence or absence of onychomycosis was examined for all patients using mycological examination by dermatologist.
Statistics: A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors related to the prevalence of onychomycosis. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the factors that related to the severity of onychomycosis.
Results: A total of 102 diabetic patients were evaluated (65 males and 47 females) with age of 66.7±11.2years (mean±SD). Onychomycosis was present in 43 patients (42.2%). Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis, superficial white onychomycosis, proximal subungual onychomycosis, and total dystrophic onychomycosis were confirmed in 30 (69.8%), in 1 (2.3%), in 0 (0.0%), and in 12 patients (27.9%), respectively. The prevalence of onychomycosis was significantly correlated with a habit of washing his/her feet everyday (P=0.009). The mean thickness of nails with onychomycosis was 2.17±2.08mm. The severity of onychomycosis was significantly correlated with HbA1c (P<0.001).
Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence was significantly correlated with daily foot self-care, and the severity was related with diabetes specific factor, HbA1c. Therefore, it was suggested that daily washing of the feet may reduce prevalence of onychomycosis in diabetic patients. Furthermore, good control of diabetes may prevent increasing severity of onychomycosis.
Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors associated with toenail onychomycosis in diabetic patients.
Methodology: We examined the prevalence and severity of toenail onychomycosis and related factors in the right hallux toenails of diabetic outpatients of the
Statistics: A logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors related to the prevalence of onychomycosis. A multiple linear regression analysis was performed to determine the factors that related to the severity of onychomycosis.
Results: A total of 102 diabetic patients were evaluated (65 males and 47 females) with age of 66.7±11.2years (mean±SD). Onychomycosis was present in 43 patients (42.2%). Distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis, superficial white onychomycosis, proximal subungual onychomycosis, and total dystrophic onychomycosis were confirmed in 30 (69.8%), in 1 (2.3%), in 0 (0.0%), and in 12 patients (27.9%), respectively. The prevalence of onychomycosis was significantly correlated with a habit of washing his/her feet everyday (P=0.009). The mean thickness of nails with onychomycosis was 2.17±2.08mm. The severity of onychomycosis was significantly correlated with HbA1c (P<0.001).
Conclusion: This study showed that the prevalence was significantly correlated with daily foot self-care, and the severity was related with diabetes specific factor, HbA1c. Therefore, it was suggested that daily washing of the feet may reduce prevalence of onychomycosis in diabetic patients. Furthermore, good control of diabetes may prevent increasing severity of onychomycosis.