Predictors of intra-hospital mortality in patients with diabetic foot ulcers in Nigeria: data from the MEDFUN study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are associated with high morbidity and mortality globally. Mortality in patients hospitalized for DFU in Nigeria is unacceptably high. This study was undertaken to determine factors that predict mortality in patients hospitalized for DFU in Nigeria. METHODS: The current study was part of Multi-centre Evaluation of Diabetic Foot Ulcer in Nigeria (MEDFUN), an observational study conducted in six tertiary healthcare institutions across the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Consecutive type 1 or 2 diabetic patients hospitalized for DFU who consented to participate were recruited and subjected to relevant clinical, biochemical, and radiological assessments and multidisciplinary care until discharge or death. Data for type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients were expunged from current mortality analysis due to their small number. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-three type 2 DM subjects with mean age and mean duration of DM of 57.2 ± 11.4 years and 8.7 ± 5.8 years respectively participated in this study. The median duration of ulcers was 39 days with a range of 28 to 54 days and the majority (79.9%) presented with advanced ulcers of at least Wagner grade 3. Mortality of 21.4% was recorded in the study, with the highest mortality observed among subjects with Wagner grade 5. Variables significantly associated with mortality with their respective p values were DM duration more than 120 months (p 0.005), ulcer duration > 1 month (p 0.020), ulcer severity of Wagner grade 3 and above (p 0.001), peripheral arterial disease (p 0.005), proteinuria (p < 0.001), positive blood cultures (p < 0.001), low HDL (p < 0.001), shock at presentation (p < 0.001), cardiac failure (p 0.027), and renal impairment (p < 0.001). On Multivariate regression analysis, presence of bacteraemia (OR 5.053; 95% CI 2.572-9.428) and renal impairment (OR 2.838; 95% CI 1.349-5.971) were significantly predictive of mortality independent of other variables. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed high intra-hospital mortality among patients with DFU, with the majority of deaths occurring among those with advanced ulcers, bacteraemia, cardiac failure, and renal impairment. Prompt attention to these factors might help improve survival from DFU in Nigeria.

Diabetic foot ulcer management in a multidisciplinary foot centre: one-year healing, amputation and mortality rate.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the rates of healing, major amputation and mortality after 12 months in patients with a new diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and their care in a French diabetic foot service (DFS). METHOD: A prospective single-centre study including patients from March 2009 to December 2010. The length of time to healing, minor amputation, major amputation and mortality rate after inclusion were analysed using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: Some 347 patients were included (3% lost to follow-up), with a median follow-up (IQR) of 19 (12-24) months. The mean (SD) age was 65±12 years, 68% were male, and the median duration of the ulcer was 49 (19-120) days. Complications of the DFU were ischaemia (70%), infection (55%) and osteomyelitis (47%). Of the patients, 50% were inpatients in the DFS at inclusion (median duration of hospitalisation 26 (15-41) days). The rate of healing at one year was 67% (95% confidence interval (CI): 61-72); of major amputation 10% (95% CI: 7-17); of minor amputation 19% (95% CI: 14-25), and the death rate was 9% (95% CI: 7-13). Using an adjusted hazard ratio, the predictive factors of healing were perfusion and the area of the wound. The risk factors for a major amputation were active smoking and osteomyelitis. The risk factors for mortality were perfusion and age. CONCLUSION: This study confirms the need to treat DFUs rapidly, in a multidisciplinary DFS.

Competing Risk Analysis of the Impact of Pedal Arch Status and Angiosome-Targeted Revascularization in Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia.

BACKGROUND: In the context of chronic limb-threatening ischemia, the prognostic impact of angiosome-targeted revascularization and of the status of the pedal arch are debated. METHODS: This series includes 580 patients who underwent endovascular (n = 407) and surgical revascularization (n = 173) of the infrapopliteal arteries for chronic limb-threatening ischemia associated with foot ulcer or gangrene. The risk of major amputation after infrapopliteal revascularization was assessed by a competing risk approach. A subanalysis was made separately for patients who underwent endovascular or open surgical revascularization. RESULTS: At 2 years, survival was 65.1% and leg salvage was 76.1%. Multivariable competing risk analysis showed that C-reactive protein ≥10 mg/dL, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, increased number of affected angiosomes, and the incomplete or total absence of pedal arch compared with complete pedal arch (CPA) were independent predictors of major amputation after infrapopliteal revascularization. Multivariable analysis showed increasing risk estimates of major amputation in patients with incomplete (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR], 2.131; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.282-3.543) and no visualized pedal arch (SHR, 3.022; 95% CI, 1.553-5.883) compared with CPA. Pedal arch was important even if angiosome-targeted revascularization was achieved: Angiosome-directed revascularization in presence of CPA had a lower risk of major amputation (adjusted SHR, 0.463; 95% CI, 0.240-0.894) compared with angiosome-directed revascularization without CPA. In the subanalysis, among patients who underwent endovascular revascularization, CPA (SHR, 0.509; 95% CI, 0.286-0.905) and angiosome-targeted revascularization (SHR, 0.613; 95% CI, 0.394-0.956) were associated with a lower risk of major amputation. CONCLUSIONS: Competing risk analysis showed that a patent pedal arch had significant impact on leg salvage and that the subset of patients undergoing endovascular procedure may most benefit of an angiosome-targeted revascularization.

Predictive Model for Mortality Risk Including the Wound, Ischemia, Foot Infection Classification in Patients Undergoing Revascularization for Critical Limb Ischemia.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to develop a predictive model for mortality risk based on preoperative risk factors, including the Wound, Ischemia, Foot Infection (WIfI) classification, in patients undergoing revascularization for critical limb ischemia. METHODS: We analyzed a database of the Surgical reconstruction versus Peripheral Intervention in Patients With Critical Limb Ischemia registry, a multicenter, prospective, observational study that included 520 critical limb ischemia patients (192 surgical and 328 endovascular patients). RESULTS: Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified old age, impaired mobility, low body mass index, renal failure, heart failure, and high WIfI grade as independent risk factors for all-cause mortality (all P<0.05). The risk score comprising these risk factors discriminated the mortality risk well; the 2-year survival rate was >90% in the first quantile of the risk score and ≈20% in the fifth quantile. The area under the time-dependent receiver operating characteristics curve was 0.829 for thirty-day mortality and 0.811 for 2-year mortality. Adding more detailed preoperative information to the predictive model revealed that cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate, left ventricular ejection fraction, and cholinesterase levels were additional independent risk factors, but the predictive accuracy of the model was not significantly improved, according to the time-dependent receiver operating characteristics curve and net reclassification improvement. CONCLUSIONS: The current study developed a risk score for mortality using preoperative risk factors, including the WIfI classification, in critical limb ischemia patients undergoing revascularization.

Risk factors for foot ulceration in adults with end-stage renal disease on dialysis: a prospective observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patients experience high rates of foot ulceration. Although risk factors for ulceration have been extensively studied in patients with diabetes, there is limited high-quality, longitudinal evidence in the dialysis population. Therefore, this study investigated risk factors for foot ulceration in a stable dialysis cohort. METHODS: We prospectively collected clinical, demographic, health status, and foot examination information on 450 adults with end-stage renal disease from satellite and home-therapy dialysis units in Melbourne, Australia over 12 months. The primary outcome was foot ulceration. Cox proportional hazard modelling and multinomial regression were used to investigate risk factors. RESULTS: Among 450 dialysis patients (mean age, 67.5 years; 64.7% male; 94% hemodialysis; 50.2% diabetes), new cases of foot ulceration were identified in 81 (18%) participants. Overall, risk factors for foot ulceration were neuropathy (HR 3.02; 95% CI 1.48 to 6.15) and previous ulceration (HR 2.86; CI 1.53 to 5.34). In those without history of ulceration, nail pathology (RR 3.85; CI 1.08 to 13.75) and neuropathy (RR 2.66; CI 1.04 to 6.82) were risk factors. In those with history of ulceration, neuropathy (RR 11.23; CI 3.16 to 39.87), peripheral arterial disease (RR 7.15; CI 2.24 to 22.82) and cerebrovascular disease (RR 2.08; CI 1.04 to 4.16) were risk factors. There were 12 (2.7%) new amputations, 96 (21.3%) infections, 24 (5.3%) revascularizations, 42 (9.3%) foot-related hospitalizations, and 52 (11.6%) deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Neuropathy and previous ulceration are major risk factors for foot ulceration in dialysis patients. Risk factors differ between those with and without prior ulceration. The risk factors identified will help to reduce the incidence of ulceration and its associated complications.

Amputation-free survival in 17,353 people at high risk for foot ulceration in diabetes: a national observational study.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Our aim was to investigate amputation-free survival in people at high risk for foot ulceration in diabetes ('high-risk foot'), and to compare different subcategories of high-risk foot. METHODS: Overall, 17,353 people with diabetes and high-risk foot from January 2008 to December 2011 were identified from the Scotland-wide diabetes register (Scottish Care Information-Diabetes: N = 247,278). Participants were followed-up for up to 2 years from baseline and were categorised into three groups: (1) those with no previous ulcer, (2) those with an active ulcer or (3) those with a healed previous ulcer. Participants with prior minor or major amputation were excluded. Accelerated failure time models were used to compare amputation-free survival up to 2 years between the three exposure groups. RESULTS: The 2 year amputation-free survival rate in all people with diabetes with high-risk foot was 84.5%. In this study group, 270 people (10.0%) had an amputation and 2424 (90.0%) died during the 2 year follow-up period. People who had active and healed previous ulcers at baseline had significantly lower 2 year amputation-free survival compared with those who had no previous ulcer (both p < 0.0001). The percentage of people who died within 2 years for those with healed ulcer, active ulcer or no baseline ulcer was 22.8%, 16% and 12.1%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: In people judged to be at high risk of foot ulceration, the risk of death was up to nine times the risk of amputation. Death rates were higher for people with diabetes who had healed ulcers than for those with active ulcers. However, people with active ulcers had the highest risk of amputation.

Transcutaneous oxygen pressure as a predictor for short-term survival in patients with type 2 diabetes and foot ulcers: a comparison with ankle-brachial index and toe blood pressure.

AIMS: Ankle-brachial index (ABI) is the most commonly used test when diagnosing peripheral vascular disease and is considered a marker for cardiovascular risk. Transcutaneous oxygen pressure (TcPO2), a test associated with microvascular function, has in several studies shown better correlation with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) healing. Whether a low TcPO2 could be a marker for mortality in the high-risk population of DFU patients has not been evaluated before. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive value of TcPO2 in comparison with ABI and toe blood pressure (TBP) on 1-year mortality in type 2 diabetes patients with DFU. METHODS: Type 2 diabetes patients aged ≤ 90 years, with one DFU who attended our multidisciplinary DFU-unit during year 2013-2015 and were screened with TcPO2, ABI and TBP were retrospectively evaluated. One-year mortality was assessed from the national death register in Sweden. RESULTS: A total of 236 patients (30% women) with a median age of 76 (69-82) years were evaluated in this study. Within 1 year, 14.8% of the patients died. TcPO2 < 25 mmHg was associated with a higher 1-year mortality compared with TcPO2 ≥ 25 mmHg (27.7 vs. 11.6%, p = 0.003). TBP and ABI did not significantly influence 1-year mortality. In a Cox regression analysis adjusted for confounders, TcPO2 was independently predicting 1-year mortality with a hazard ratio for TcPO2 < 25 mmHg of 2.8 (95% CI 1.34-5.91, p = 0.006). CONCLUSIONS: This study indicates that a low TcPO2 is an independent prognostic marker for 1-year mortality among patients with type 2 diabetes and DFU.

Heel Wounds Predict Mortality but Not Amputation after Infrapopliteal Revascularization.

BACKGROUND: Ischemic heel ulcerations are generally thought to carry a poor prognosis for limb salvage. We hypothesized that patients undergoing infrapopliteal revascularization for heel wounds, either bypass or endovascular intervention, would have lower wound healing rates and amputation-free survival (AFS) than patients with forefoot wounds. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed on patients who presented between 2006 and 2013 to our institution with ischemic foot wounds and infrapopliteal arterial disease and underwent either pedal bypass or endovascular tibial artery intervention. Data were collected on patient demographics, comorbidities, wound characteristics, procedural details, and postoperative outcomes then analyzed by initial wound classification. The primary outcome was major amputation or death. RESULTS: Three hundred ninety-eight limbs underwent treatment for foot wounds; accurate wound data were available in 380 cases. There were 101 bypasses and 279 endovascular interventions, with mean follow-up of 24.6 and 19.9 months, respectively (P = 0.02). Heel wounds comprised 12.1% of the total with the remainder being forefoot wounds; there was no difference in treatment modality by wound type (P = 0.94). Of 46 heel wounds, 5 (10.9%) had clinical or radiographic evidence of calcaneal osteomyelitis. Patients with heel wounds were more likely to have diabetes mellitus (DM) (P = 0.03) and renal insufficiency (P = 0.004). 43.1% of wounds healed within 1 year, with no difference by wound location (P = 0.30). Major amputation rate at 1 year was 17.8%, with no difference by wound location (P = 0.81) or treatment type (P = 0.33). One- and 3-year AFS was 66.2% and 44.0% for forefoot wounds and 45.7% and 17.6% for heel wounds, respectively (P = 0.001). In a multivariate analysis, heel wounds and endovascular intervention were both predictors of death; however, there was significant interaction such that endovascular intervention was associated with higher mortality in patients with forefoot wounds (hazard ratio 2.25, P < 0.001) but not those with heel wounds (hazard ratio 0.67, P = 0.31). CONCLUSIONS: Patients presenting with heel ulceration who undergo infrapopliteal revascularization are prone to higher mortality despite equivalent rates of amputation and wound healing and regardless of treatment modality. These patients may benefit from an endovascular-first strategy.

Bypass versus endovascular intervention for healing ischemic foot wounds secondary to tibial arterial disease.

OBJECTIVE: Pedal (inframalleolar) bypass is a long-standing therapy for tibial arterial disease in patients with ischemic tissue loss. Endovascular tibial intervention is an appealing alternative with lower risks of perioperative mortality or complications. Our objective was to compare the effectiveness of these two treatment modalities with respect to patency and limb-related clinical outcomes. METHODS: We performed a retrospective chart review of patients presenting between 2006 and 2013 with ischemic foot wounds and infrapopliteal arterial disease who underwent a revascularization procedure (either open surgical bypass to an inframalleolar target or endovascular tibial intervention). Data were collected on baseline demographics and comorbidities, procedural details, and postprocedure outcomes. The primary outcome was successful healing of the index wound, with mortality, major amputation, and patency assessed as secondary outcomes. RESULTS: We identified 417 patients who met our eligibility criteria; 105 underwent surgical bypass and 312 underwent endovascular intervention, with mean follow-up of 25.0 and 20.2 months, respectively (P = .08). The endovascular patients were older at baseline (P = .009), with higher rates of hyperlipidemia (P = .02), prior cerebrovascular accidents (P = .04), and smoking history (P = .04). Within 30 days postoperatively, there was no difference in mortality (P = .31), but bypass patients had longer hospital length of stay (P < .0001), higher rate of discharge to nursing facility (P < .001), and higher rates of myocardial infarctions (P = .03) and wound complications (P < .001). At 6 months, the rate of wound healing was 22.4% in the bypass group compared with 29.0% in the endovascular group (P = .02). At 1 year, survival was higher after bypass (86.2% vs 70.4%; P < .0001), but freedom from major amputation was similar (84.9% vs 82.8%; P = .42). Primary patency (53.1% vs 38.2%; P = .002) and primary assisted patency (76.6% vs 51.7%; P < .0001) were higher in the bypass group, but there was no difference in secondary patency (77.3% vs 73.8%; P = .13). CONCLUSIONS: Endovascular tibial intervention is associated with poorer primary patency but similar secondary patency and wound healing rates compared with the "gold standard" of surgical bypass to a pedal target. In patients with tibial arterial disease, endovascular intervention should be considered a lower risk alternative to pedal bypass that provides similar clinical outcomes.

Social deprivation modifies the association between incident foot ulceration and mortality in type 1 and type 2 diabetes: a longitudinal study of a primary-care cohort.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to determine whether social deprivation in the presence of diabetes is an independent predictor of developing a foot ulcer and separately of mortality. METHODS: This was a primary-care-based retrospective analysis of 13,955 adults with type 1 (n = 1370) or type 2 (n = 12,585) diabetes after a median follow-up of 10.5 years. Demographic characteristics, indices of social deprivation and clinical variables were assessed at baseline. The primary outcomes were new foot ulceration (in those without a previous history of foot ulcers) and all-cause mortality. Cox proportional hazard models were used to describe the associations among foot ulceration, social deprivation and mortality. RESULTS: The mean age of the population was 69.4 (range: 16-89) years. The incidence of foot ulceration was greater in individuals with type 2 (8.6%) compared with type 1 diabetes (4.8%). Occurrence was similar by sex, but increased with age and deprivation index. Individuals in the highest quintile of deprivation were 77% more likely to develop a foot ulcer compared with those in the lowest quintile (OR 1.77 [95% CI 1.45, 2.14], p < 0.0001). Overall, 2946 (21.1%) deaths were recorded. Compared with individuals without a foot ulcer, the development of a foot ulcer was associated with a higher age- and sex-adjusted mortality rate (25.9% vs 14.0%), and a 72% (HR 1.72 [95% CI 1.56, 1.90], p < 0.001) increased risk of mortality in those with type 2 diabetes. Risk of death increased by 14% per quintile of deprivation in a univariable analysis (HR 1.14 [95% CI 1.10, 1.17]). In multivariable Cox regression analyses, there was a 48% increased risk of mortality in individuals with a foot ulcer (HR 1.48 [95% CI 1.33, 1.66]) independent of the Townsend index score (HR 1.13 [95% CI 1.10, 1.17], per quintile), baseline age, sex, diabetes type, smoking status, hypertension, statin use, ß-blocker use, metformin use, HbA1c levels and insulin use. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: This study confirms the high mortality rate in individuals with diabetes-related foot ulcers. In addition, socioeconomic disadvantage was found to be an independent effect modifier, contributing to an increased burden of mortality in people with diabetes who develop foot ulceration. In light of this, and as diabetes service configurations are orientated for the next 5-10 years, modelling of foot ulceration risk needs to take socioeconomic disadvantage into account.

Retrospective Cohort Analysis of Pedal Procedures in the Thrombocytopenic Patient.

Thrombocytopenia is an important medical condition to understand prior to performing procedures in the foot and ankle. We have set forth to highlight factors a physician should take into consideration before performing procedures in the thrombocytopenic patient. A retrospective cohort analysis at a large academic institution was undertaken utilizing a cohort discovery tool to discover incidence and management strategies for patients with foot-related conditions that require in-office procedures. We demonstrate that a full history and physical are important to guide treatment along with complete blood count testing prior to intervention. We included all patients at the institution that underwent a foot and ankle procedure in-office with podiatric surgery over 10 years where thrombocytopenia was demonstrable via complete blood count within 3 months of the procedure. Patients' charts were reviewed for 1 year following podiatric intervention and outcomes were recorded. The cohort reveals that patients with thrombocytopenia have many advanced comorbidities but performing procedures in this cohort is safe. Complications from procedures included erythrocyte transfusion, ulcer recurrence, need for formal surgical intervention, infection, falls, and death. We then provide a brief discussion about the etiology and management options available for thrombocytopenia.

Long term outcomes of diabetic haemodialysis patients with critical limb ischemia and foot ulcer.

AIM: To evaluate the outcomes of diabetic dialysis patients with critical limb ischemia and foot ulcer. METHODS: The study group included 599 diabetic, 99 dialyzed (Ds) (16.5%) and 500 not dialyzed (NDs) (83%) patients with critical limb ischemia and foot ulcers identified as stage C (ischemia) or D (ischemia plus infection) of Texas Wound Classification. All patients were treated by endovascular revascularization. Outcomes were expressed as healing, major amputation, death and non healing after 12months. The mean follow-up was 15±13months. RESULTS: The outcomes of the whole population were: 48.9% healing, 11.3% major amputation, 12.7% death, 27.1 non healing. At the multivariate analysis dialysis was a negative predictor of healing and a positive predictor of major amputation. Outcomes for Ds and NDs were respectively: healing (30.3 vs 52.6%), major amputation (14.4 vs 10.8%), death (21.1 vs 11%) and non-healing (34.2 vs 25.6%) (X=0.0004). Amputation occurred earlier in Ds than in NDs. According to the multivariate analysis in Ds ischemic heart disease and lower ΔTcPO2 were negative predictors for healing. Successful revascularization was a negative predictor for major amputation. HDL and carotid artery disease were predictive factors of death among NDs. Among Ds high blood pressure values were the only predictor of amputation while no variable resulted predictive of healing or death. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that our limb salvage protocol ensures a good rate of limb salvage in Ds even if they have a higher risk of amputation and death compared to NDs.

Association of diabetic foot ulcer and death in a population-based cohort from the United Kingdom.

AIMS: The presence of diabetic foot ulcers is strongly associated with an increased risk of death. In this study, we investigate whether the effects of diabetes-associated complications can explain the apparent relationship between diabetic foot ulcers and death. METHODS: We analysed data from 414 523 people with diabetes enrolled in practices associated with The Health Improvement Network in the United Kingdom. Our methods were designed to control for potential confounders in order to isolate the relationship between diabetic foot ulcers and death. Using proportional hazards models and the area under the receiver operator curve, we evaluated the effects of diabetic foot ulcers and the covariates on death. RESULTS: Among the patients, 20 737 developed diabetic foot ulcers; 5.0% of people with new ulcers died within 12 months of their first foot ulcer visit and 42.2% of people with foot ulcers died within 5 years. After controlling for major known complications of diabetes that might influence mortality, the correlation between diabetic foot ulcers and death remained strong with a fully adjusted hazard ratio of 2.48 (95% confidence interval: 2.43, 2.54). Geographic variance existed but was not spatially associated. CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic foot ulcers are linked to an increased risk of death. This cannot be explained by other common risk factors. These results suggest that either there are major unknown risk factors associated with both diabetic foot ulcers and death, or that diabetic foot ulceration itself is a serious threat, which seems unlikely. A diabetic foot ulcer should be seen as a major warning sign for mortality, necessitating closer medical follow-up.

Successful foot salvage with microvascular flaps in diabetic patients.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Complex nontraumatic foot lesions often lead to major lower-limb amputation in diabetic patients. We aimed to evaluate outcome of free flap transfer in such cases. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 11 consecutive diabetic patients, hospitalized between 2007 and 2012 at a university central hospital for a free flap transfer, were followed until September 2013. Amputation-free survival, patient survival, and complete wound healing were defined as primary endpoints. Healing time of tissue lesions was analyzed. All pre- and postoperative data were retrospectively collected from hospital charts. RESULTS: Complete tissue healing at 6 and 12 months after free flap transfer were 55% (6/11) and 82% (9/11), respectively. The median time to complete tissue healing was 123 days (range, 45-207 days). Overall limb salvage, survival, and amputation-free survival rates at 12 months were 90%, 91%, and 82%, respectively. The clinically important endpoint, namely, amputation-free survival with completely healed wounds, was attained in 9 of 11 patients at 1 year. CONCLUSION: Free tissue transfer enables successful wound healing and limb salvage rather than amputation in selected diabetic patients with difficult-to-heal wounds. Complete healing of tissue lesions is slow even after successful surgery. Preoperative assessment of the condition of patients is the key to success.

Influence of foot ulceration on cause-specific mortality in patients with diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the odds of all-cause mortality in individuals with diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) compared with those with diabetes and no history of DFU. In addition, we sought to determine the strength of association of DFU with cardiovascular and nonvascular mortality. METHODS: We obtained data for a cohort of patients who attended a secondary care diabetic foot clinic or a general diabetes clinic between 2009 and 2010. A clinic cohort of patients with diabetes and no history of DFU provided a control group. Cause-specific mortality was recorded during a median follow-up duration of 3.6 years (interquartile range, 3.3-4.2 years). The association between DFU and all-cause mortality was evaluated by Cox regression. The association between DFU and cardiovascular mortality was determined by competing risk modeling. RESULTS: We recorded 145 events of all-cause mortality and 27 events of cardiovascular mortality among 869 patients with diabetes. After adjustment for potential confounders, DFU was associated with both cardiovascular disease (hazard ratio, 2.53; 95% confidence interval, 0.98-6.49; P = .05) and all-cause mortality (hazard ratio, 3.98; 95% confidence interval, 2.55-6.21; P < .001). The proportion of deaths attributable to cardiovascular disease was similar between the groups (18% with diabetes only and 19% with DFU; P = .91). CONCLUSIONS: DFU is associated with premature death from vascular and nonvascular causes.

Outcomes of angiosome and non-angiosome targeted revascularization in critical lower limb ischemia.

OBJECTIVE: Blood supply to the foot is from the posterior tibial, anterior tibial, and the peroneal arteries. Ischemic ulceration of the foot is the most common cause for major amputations in vascular surgical patients. It can be presumed that revascularization of the artery directly supplying the ischemic angiosome may be superior to indirect revascularization of the concerned ischemic angiosome. METHODS: This was a prospective study of 64 patients with continuous single crural vessel runoff to the foot presenting with critical limb ischemia from January 2007 to September 2008. Direct revascularization (DR) of the ischemic angiosome was performed in 61% (n=39), indirect revascularization (IR) in 39% (n=25). Open surgery was performed in 60.9% and endovascular interventions in 39.1%. All patients were evaluated for the status of the wound and limb salvage at 1, 3, and 6 months. The study end points were major amputation or death, limb salvage, and wound epithelialization at 6 months. RESULTS: In the study, 81.2% of patients had forefoot ischemia, 17.2% had ischemic heel, whereas 1.6% had midfoot nonhealing ischemic ulceration. The runoff involved the anterior tibial artery in 42.2% (27/64), posterior tibial artery in 34.4% (22/64), and the peroneal artery in 23.4% (15/64). All patients were followed at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively for ulcer healing, major amputation, or death. At the end of 6 months, nine patients expired, and six were lost to follow-up. Of 49 patients who completed 6 months, nine underwent major amputation, and 40 had limb salvage. Ulcer healing at 1, 3, and 6 months for DR vs IR were 7.9% vs 5%, 57.6% vs 12.5%, and 96.4% vs 83.3%, respectively. This difference in the rates of ulcer healing between the DR and IR groups was statistically significant (P=.021). The limb salvage in the DR group (84%) and IR group (75%) was not statistically significant (P=.06). The mortality was 10.2% for DR and 20% for IR at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: To attain better ulcer healing rates combined with higher limb salvage, direct revascularization of the ischemic angiosome should be considered whenever possible. Revascularization should not be denied to patients with indirect perfusion of the ischemic angiosome as acceptable rates of limb salvage are obtained.

Older adults with heel ulcers in the acute care setting: frequency of noninvasive vascular assessment, surgical intervention, and 1-year mortality.

OBJECTIVES: To examine how often hospitalized older adults with a diagnosis of heel ulcers are evaluated with noninvasive vascular tests and to determine the impact of invasive vascular or surgical procedures on 1-year mortality. DESIGN: Retrospective review using an electronic database and chart review of all patients discharged with a diagnosis of heel ulcer between 2006 and 2009. SETTING: Urban teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 506 participants aged 65 years and older. MEASUREMENTS: Data collected included resident characteristics (demographics, medical history, and severity of illness using the Charlson comorbidity index), staging of heel ulcers, rates of noninvasive vascular assessments, vascular and surgical procedures, length of stay, and 1-year mortality. RESULTS: Thirty-one percent (155/506) of patients with a heel ulcer underwent noninvasive vascular testing and of these 83% (129/155) were found to have underlying ischemia. Twenty-six percent (130/506) of patients underwent at least 1 vascular or surgical procedure. The 1-year mortality rate for patients with stage 1 or 2 disease was 55%; this rose to 70% for patients with stage 3 or 4 ulcers (P = .01), and could not be explained by differences in the Charlson comorbidity index. Patients who underwent a vascular or surgical procedure had a significantly lower mortality compared with those who did not (59% vs 68% P = .04). CONCLUSION: Older adults with a heel ulcer in the acute care setting are frequently not assessed for underlying ischemia of the lower extremities. The diagnosis carries high 1-year mortality rates. Evidence-based protocols need to be developed to determine which older adults should have a vascular assessment and then undergo an invasive procedure.

History of foot ulcers increases mortality among patients with diabetes in Northern Thailand.

AIMS: Studies within the Caucasian population with diabetes showed an increased mortality in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. However, there were no such studies based on Asian populations. We therefore designed our study on the association of foot ulcer with mortality within the Asian population. METHODS: Ninety-seven Asian individuals with diabetes who had previously participated in the 'Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Protocol' between 2005 and 2007 at our centre were followed up in 2010 to ascertain their mortality rate. Cox proportional-hazard regression analyses were used to estimate hazard ratios. RESULTS: Forty-seven patients had a history of foot ulcer (group 1), while 50 had none (group 2). The mean follow-up was 43.74 months. Twenty-one patients died during this period (21.65%). The mortality rates in group 1 and group 2 were 15 (31.92%) and six (12.00%), respectively. Patients with a history of foot ulcer had higher mortality rates than those without (hazard ratio 3.51, 95% CI 1.03-11.96, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that history of foot ulcer increased mortality. This association appeared to be stronger in younger Asian patients than those in the Caucasian populations.