Mid-Term Outcomes in Patients Hospitalized for Diabetic Foot Attack
A retrospective observational study published in Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism assessed six-month outcomes of patients admitted to a multidisciplinary diabetic foot service for diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), comparing those with a Diabetic Foot Attack (DFA) to those with Chronic Diabetic Foot (CDF) conditions.
Study Overview:
- Population: 141 patients, mean age 70 ± 12 years; majority male (76.6%) with type 2 diabetes (93.6%) of mean duration 22 ± 13 years.
- Group Definitions: DFA patients had acute ischemia, moderate/severe infections, or urgent conditions requiring hospitalization. CDF patients were admitted electively for chronic DFUs.
- DFA Characteristics: Higher rates of moderate/severe infection (81.5% vs 50% in CDF), higher HbA1c levels (67 ± 22 vs 56 ± 14 mmol/mol), and more first-time DFU assessments (59.3% vs 13.3%).
Six-Month Outcomes (DFA vs CDF):
- Healing: 65.4% vs 60.0% (p = 0.3)
- Major Amputation: 4.9% vs 1.7% (p = 0.2)
- Mortality: 8.6% vs 11.7% (p = 0.5)
- Hospital Readmission: 27.2% vs 26.7% (p = 0.8)
- Non-fatal MALCE: 9.9% vs 23.3% (p = 0.1)
Conclusion: Despite more severe initial presentations, patients hospitalized with DFA experienced similar six-month outcomes compared to those with CDF, suggesting that urgent multidisciplinary management may lead to favorable mid-term results.
Keywords:
diabetic foot attack,
chronic diabetic foot,
DFU,
amputation risk,
hospital readmission,
MALCE,
HbA1c,
multidisciplinary wound care
Read the full study in Therapeutic Advances in Endocrinology and Metabolism