Associations between specialty care and improved outcomes among patients with diabetic foot ulcers.

OBJECTIVE: Specialty care may improve diabetic foot ulcer outcomes. Medically underserved populations receive less specialty care. We aimed to determine the association between specialty care and ulcer progression, major amputation, or death. If a beneficial association is found, increasing access to specialty care might help advance health equity. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of Wisconsin and Illinois Medicare patients with diabetic foot ulcers (n = 55,409), stratified by ulcer severity (i.e., early stage, osteomyelitis, or gangrene). Within each stratum, we constructed Kaplan-Meier curves for event-free survival, defining events as: ulcer progression, major amputation, or death. Patients were grouped based on whether they received specialty care from at least one of six disciplines: endocrinology, infectious disease, orthopedic surgery, plastic surgery, podiatry, and vascular surgery. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models estimated the association between specialty care and event-free survival, adjusting for sociodemographic factors and comorbidities, and stratifying on ulcer severity. RESULTS: Patients who received specialty care had longer event-free survival compared to those who did not (log-rank p<0.001 for all ulcer severity strata). After adjusting, receipt of specialty care, compared to never, remained associated with improved outcomes for all ulcer severities (early stage adjusted hazard ratio 0.34, 95% CI 0.33-0.35, p<0.001; osteomyelitis aHR 0.22, 95% CI 0.20-0.23, p<0.001; gangrene aHR 0.22, 95% CI 0.20-0.24, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Specialty care was associated with longer event-free survivals for patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Increased, equitable access to specialty care might improve diabetic foot ulcer outcomes and disparities.

Current knowledge of morbidities and direct costs related to diabetic foot disorders: a literature review.

Diabetes is a chronic disease associated with numerous complications including diabetic foot disorders, which are associated with significant morbidity and mortality as well as high costs. The costs associated with diabetic foot disorders comprise those linked to care (direct) and loss of productivity and poor quality of life (indirect). Due to the constant increase in diabetes prevalence, it is expected that diabetic foot disorder will require more resources, both in terms of caregivers and economically. We reviewed findings on management, morbidity, mortality, and costs related to diabetic foot disorder.

Asociación entre el índice de amputación por pie diabético y los indicadores de atención y manejo de diabetes mellitus tipo 2 en los Centros de Salud del Servicio Metropolitano Oriente, entre 2014 y 2018 / Association between the diabetic foot amputation index and metabolic compensation in diabetes mellitus

BACKGROUND: Diabetic foot amputation is a public health challenge due to the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Although there are many health indicators aimed at the management and control of T2D and its complications, amputations persist. Aim: To evaluate the association between diabetic foot amputation index and indicators of care and management of T2D in primary care centers of the eastern section of Santiago, Chile. MATERIAL AND MATHODS: We conducted a mixed ecological study and included information from the Monthly Statistical report of different public health centers from 2014 to 2018. We also analyzed the hospital discharge records from an individual tertiary public health center. The annual index for diabetic foot amputation per 100,000 diabetic patients was used as a response variable. The diabetic compensation percentage was calculated as the proportion of adults with a glycosylated hemoglobin below 7% or the proportion of older people with a value below 8%. The diabetic decompensation percentage was calculated as the proportion of people with a glycosylated hemoglobin over 9%. RESULTS: A high variability in demographic and management indicators was observed between communes and centers in the study period. Bivariate analysis showed a significant correlation between the amputation index, decompensation, and insulin use. In a regression analysis, the amputation index was significantly associated with the diabetic compensation percentage (β = -3.5; p < 0.05) and a high decompensation percentage (β = 12.3; p < 0.005). Conclusions: The diabetic foot amputation index was associated with diabetic compensation and decompensation indicators.

Caracterización y resultados del manejo de úlceras en pie diabético en una institución terciaria / Characterization and results of the management of diabetic foot ulcers in a tertiary institution

Antecedentes: La diabetes mellitus causa complica- ciones importantes, entre estas el pie diabético que se asocia a mayor riesgo de morbilidad y mortalidad. Objetivo: Describir las características y resultados del manejo de úlceras en pacientes con pie diabético de una institución terciaria. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo descriptivo, llevado a cabo en Hospital de Especia- lidades, Instituto Hondureño de Seguridad Social, abril 2018-abril 2020. Se revisaron expedientes clínicos de pacientes con diag- nóstico de pie diabético. Resultados: La edad promedio de los pacientes fue 62.9 años, con una desviación estándar (DE) (+/- 10.8); de predominio masculino 77.5% (55/71). Un 79.0% (56/71) tenía antecedentes de más de 10 años de diagnóstico de diabe- tes mellitus tipo II. Según clasificación de Wagner fue Grado 3 en 50.7% (36/71). El 69.0% (49/71) presentaron una úlcera en región plantar pie izquierdo. El manejo fue con apósitos impregnados con solución de factor de crecimiento epidérmico y aceite ozonizado en 43.7% (31/71); los antibióticos administrados fueron clindamicina 71.8% (51/71) y ceftriaxone 55.7% (41/71). El número de desbrida- mientos fue entre 1-2 en 49.3% (35/71) y el número de curaciones realizadas entre 6-10 en 38.0% (27/71). El resultado terapéutico fue cierre total de la úlcera en 33.8% (24/71) y las complicaciones (amputación/infección) se presentaron en 16.9% (12/71). No se reportó mortalidad. Discusión: El paciente con diagnóstico de pie diabético es manejado en la institución con desbridamientos, cu- raciones y antibioticoterapia, logrando cierre total de la ulceración en un tercio de los casos, algunos casos se complican y finalizan en amputación, similares resultados reportado por otros autores...(AU)

Avaliação de sintomas depressivos em pessoas com diabetes mellitus e pé ulcerado / Assessment of depressive symptoms in people with diabetes mellitus and foot ulcers

OBJETIVO: Avaliar a intensidade de sintomas de depressão nos pacientes diabéticos com úlceras no pé. MÉTODOS: Estudo exploratório, descritivo, analítico e transversal, realizado no ambulatório de feridas de um hospital público, de Sorocaba/SP. Participaram 50 pacientes com diabetes mellitus e pé ulcerado. Para mensurar a intensidade dos sintomas de depressão foi utilizado o inventário de Avaliação de Depressão de Beck. RESULTADOS: Dos 50 pacientes avaliados, 41 apresentavam algum grau de sintoma depressivo, sendo que 32 (64 por cento) com depressão moderada, apresentando sintomas de autodepreciação, tristeza, distorção da imagem corporal e diminuição da libido. CONCLUSÃO: Pacientes diabéticos com pé ulcerado apresentaram graus variados de sintomas depressivos.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the intensity of symptoms of depression in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. METHODS: a exploratory, descriptive, analytical and cross-sectional study was held at the wound clinic of a public hospital in Sorocaba, São Paulo State, Brazil. Fifty patients with diabetes mellitus and foot ulcers were enrolled. To assess the intensity of the symptoms of depression, a Beck Depression inventory was used. RESULTS: Of the 50 patients evaluated, 41 had some degree of depressive symptoms and 32 (64 percent) had moderate depression, with symptoms of self-loathing, grief, body image distortion and decreased libido. CONCLUSION: Patients with diabetic foot ulcers showed varying degrees of depressive symptoms.