Strong work from Monge and coworkers from Torino, Italy suggest that if we focus on amputations over ulcers, we may be missing a massive public health burden– and opportunity.
Incidence of hospitalization and mortality in patients with diabetic foot regardless of amputation: a population study
Abstract
Aims The aim of our study was to estimate the overall rate of first hospitalizations for diabetic foot (DF) regardless of the out- come in amputations, as well as the mortality rate with their determinants in the period 2012–2016 in Piedmont Region in Italy. Methods The study included all the subjects registered in the Regional Diabetes Registry and alive as at January 1, 2012. DF cases were identified by record linkage with the regional hospital discharge database. Incident cases of diabetic foot were followed up for mortality.
Results The 5-year rates were 1762, 324, and 343 × 100,000 patients for first hospitalization without amputations, with major amputations, and with minor amputations, respectively. Patients not undergoing amputations were more than 70% of the cohort. Patients with the more severe stages of diabetes and those with low education were at higher risk of each type of hospitalization. The risk of death during a mean follow-up of 2.5 years was about 16, 18, and 30% among patients without amputations, with major amputations, and with minor amputations, respectively. Males, insulin-treated patients, those affected with severe diabetes complications, particularly on dialysis, and those with lower levels of education were at higher risk. Conclusions The heavier burden of DF on hospitalizations is due to cases without amputation, a condition that is seldom considered in the diabetes literature. The severity of diabetes, preexisting complications, and low educational levels are associated with both first hospitalization and subsequent survival at any level of severity of DF.
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