An important contribution from Allen and coworkers
Annual Foot Exams are Associated with Reduced Incident Amputation among Older Veterans with Diabetes
What this paper adds:
- Data to improve understanding how consistent annual diabetic foot exams can reduce incident LEA in older veterans with diabetes
- A brief review of existing literature that reveals a gap in evidence regarding the association between consistent annual foot exams and incident lower extremity amputations Applications of study findings
- These study findings may be applied to gerontological practice; policy and/or research to inform annual diabetic foot exam guidelines
- These data may be used to inform the development of diabetic foot care education improvements to reduce LEA in older adults
Annual Foot Exams are Associated with Reduced Incident Amputation among Older Veterans with Diabetes
Abstract
We conducted a secondary data analysis to evaluate the association between annual foot exams and incident lower extremity amputations (LEA) among older veterans with diabetes during FY2007–FY2014. Older Veterans with at least one primary care provider visit each year (N = 664,162) and at least one foot exam each year (N = 72,892) and the overlap were identified from the 5 years prior to the study period of interest (FY2002–FY2006 (N = 71,122)). After excluding incident LEA related to cancer and trauma, 71,018 veterans (mean age +/ SD, % male) were included in the final cohort, which was followed from FY2007– FY2014 to evaluate the influence of subsequent annual foot exams and incident LEA. Consistent annual foot exams were protective for incident LEA in older veterans with diabetes, adjusted OR was 0.85 (97% CI: 0.74–0.96). Results indicate that adherence to annual foot exam guidelines can reduce incident LEA in older veterans with diabetes.
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