Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a multifactorial chronic condition, including dietary habits, lifestyle and social, genetic and economic factors, which affects approximately 3% of the global population. In Brazil, around 17 million people have diabetes, with extensive growth projections. Diabetic foot is a serious and prevalent complication, contributing to over 50% of lower limb amputations, especially in developing countries. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated this situation, directly impacting the lives of patients, leading to lifestyle changes, and altering the medical care of individuals with diabetes.
Objective: Investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on amputations due to diabetic foot complications in the last five years.
Methods: This is a cross-sectional study that investigated the frequency of lower limb amputations due to diabetic foot complications from 2017 to 2022 at the Emergency Hospital of Rio Branco (Brazil), considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Results: There was an increase in the quarterly average of surgeries of almost 30% after the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and a significant increase in amputations above the foot was observed when compared to the previous period (p=0,0011). The most affected age group was 40 to 79 years. In the analysis by age group, younger patients tended to have lower-level amputations, while older patients had higher-level amputations, indicating a significant correlation (p=0,0023).
Conclusion: This study found an increase in the prevalence of amputation surgeries due to diabetic foot in Acre during the COVID-19 pandemic. This can be attributed to the suspension of control and educational activities in Primary Care due to social distancing measures, transportation restrictions, and fear of virus exposure. The research emphasizes the need for early screening and treatment, both for physical and psychological health, including health agents, to improve the care of diabetic foot patients.
H.M. Carmo: None.
CNPQ
