Age Characteristics of Patients With Type 2 Diabetic Foot Ulcers and Predictive Risk Factors for Lower Limb Amputation: A Population-Based Retrospective Study
A population-based retrospective study published in the Journal of Diabetes Research analyzed data from 918 patients with type 2 diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) treated between 2017 and 2023 at The First Affiliated Hospital of Wannan Medical College in Wuhu, China. The study aimed to investigate age-related characteristics and identify key risk factors associated with lower limb amputation in this patient population.
The findings revealed that the majority of DFU patients were aged between 50 and 59 years, with a notable peak in mortality observed among those aged 70 to 79. Logistic regression analysis identified several significant predictors for lower extremity amputation, including a history of prior amputation, presence of vascular complications, infection sites, and hemoglobin levels. Specifically, a history of amputation and low hemoglobin were strongly associated with major amputations.
These insights underscore the importance of early identification and management of risk factors to prevent severe outcomes in patients with DFUs, particularly in middle-aged and older populations.
Read the full article on the Journal of Diabetes Research website.
Keywords:
Type 2 diabetes,
Diabetic foot ulcers,
Lower limb amputation,
Risk factors,
Yuanying Yao,
Lei Chen,
Yu Qian