The Amputation Rate and Associated Risk Factors within 1 Year after the Diagnosis of Diabetic Foot Ulcer / 대한족부족관절학회지

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study investigates the amputation rate within 1 year after the diagnosis of diabetic foot ulcer and its associated risk factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study enrolled 60 patients with diabetic foot ulcer. The mean and standard deviation age was 64.4±12.8 years (range, 32~89 years); the mean and standard deviation prevalence period for diabetes mellitus was 21.0±7.5 years (range, 0.5~36 years). The amputation rate was evaluated by dividing the subjects into two groups—the major and minor amputation groups—within 1 year following the initial diagnosis of diabetic foot ulcer. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis was used to identify the risk factors for amputation. RESULTS: The total amputation rate of 38.3% (n=23) was comprised of the amputation rate for the major amputation group (10.0%) and rate for the minor amputation group (23.8%). There was a high correlation between peripheral artery disease (toe brachial pressure index <0.7) and amputation (hazard ratio [HR] 5.81, confidence interval [CI] 2.09~16.1, p<0.01). Nephropathy was significantly correlated with the amputation rate (HR 3.53, CI 1.29~9.64, p=0.01). CONCLUSION: Clinicians who treat patients with diabetic foot complications must understand the fact that the amputation rate within 1 year is significant, and that the amputation rate of patients with peripheral artery disease or nephropathy is especially high.