ABSTRACT
Objective To determine the mortality and associated risk factors in the patients with diabetic foot ulcers. Methods One hundred and sixty-three patients with diabetic foot ulcers hospitalized from January 2001 to December 2006 were followed up until December 2009. Mortality rates were derived from Kaplan-Meier survival curves. The prognostic factors were evaluated with Cox proportional hazard model. Results Follow-up was successful in 139 out of 163 patients, with a mean follow-up period of(3.71 + 1. 80)years. 55 patients(39 males and 16 females)died during the follow-up. The 5-year mortality was 45.8% and mean survival time was 5.38 years(95% CI 4.87-5.89). The median survival time was 6.83 years. Age, smoking, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetic nephropathy were found to be independent prognostic factors for mortality. Conclusions Diabetic foot ulcers increased the mortality of diabetic patients. Age, smoking, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and diabetic nephropathy were predictive risk factors for mortality.