Influence of rheumatoid arthritis on foot ulcers in 342 patients visited at foot screening outpatient clinic

Foot screening in outpatient clinics plays an important role as a gate keeper that helps to connect patients and coordinate their treatment with different medical experts. We evaluated risk factors for foot ulcers in 342patients (mean age, 70.1 years ; range, 9-99 years ; median, 73 years ; male, 33.6% ; female, 66.4%) who visited our clinic from April, 2009 to June, 2012. The following factors were statistically analyzed as possible risk factors for foot ulcers: Rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus, impaired arterial blood flow, neuropathy and bone deformity. Rheumatoid arthritis was found more frequently in females and was significantly associated with bone deformity and foot ulcers. Logistic regression analysis revealed that impaired arterial blood flow (Odds ratio ; 5.31) and rheumatoid arthritis (Odds ratio ; 5.99) were independent risk factors for foot ulcer.