Long-term Mortality of a Cohort of Patients Undergoing Surgical Treatment for Diabetic Foot Infections. An 8-year Follow-up Study

Diabetic Foot Infections

Diabetes is a growing public health concern, with diabetic foot infections (DFI) being one of the leading causes of lower extremity limb amputation in the United States. Accurate diagnosis of DFI requires a combination of clinical, laboratory, and radiologic tests to determine the extent and depth of infection, including the presence of osteomyelitis. Treatment often includes a combination of antibiotics and surgical debridement. Addressing comorbidities such as peripheral vascular disease, glycemic control, and offloading pressure from ulcers and bony prominences is paramount to achieving a successful outcome, and patients should ideally be managed by dedicated interdisciplinary teams.

Radiographic Bone Healing in Minimally Invasive Floating Metatarsal Osteotomy for Neuropathic Plantar Metatarsal Head Ulcers - A Retrospective Cohort Study

Minimally invasive floating metatarsal osteotomy is an option for treating neuropathic ulcers under the metatarsal heads. This study presents the radiographic results of the floating metatarsal osteotomy. We reviewed files and radiographs at least 4 months after a floating metatarsal osteotomy in patients with diabetic neuropathy. In 71 osteotomies in 54 patients with late onset diabetes (mean age 61 ± 9, mean HbA1c 7.9 ± 1.9%), the primary ulcer healed within 3.5 ± 1.4 weeks. Of 66 osteotomies where radiographs were available 10 had non-union (15%, all asymptomatic), 15 (23%) had hypertrophic callus formation and 41 (62%) had normal union. One patient developed an ulcer under the hypertrophic callus. This necessitated callus resection. Asymptomatic non-union may happen in 15% of floating osteotomies, but the osteotomies appear to be relatively safe and effective for neuropathic plantar metatarsal head ulcers. Hypertropic callus causing local re-ulceration is rare and can be managed surgically.

Evaluating Classification Systems of Diabetic Foot Ulcer Severity: A 12-Year Retrospective Study on Factors Impacting Survival

(1) Background: This study examines the survival of patients after their first presentation with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) to the regional Diabetes, Nutrition, and Metabolic Diseases Clinic within the Emergency Clinical Hospital "Sf. Spiridon", Iaşi, and analyzes the factors associated with this outcome. (2) Methods: In this retrospective study, patients with DFUs consecutively referred between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2017 were followed up until 31 December 2020 (for 13 years). The study group included 659 subjects. (3) Results: During the study period, there were 278 deaths (42.2%) and the average survival time was 9 years. The length of hospitalization, diabetic nephropathy, chronic kidney disease, glomerular filtration rate, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, anemia, and DFU severity were the most significant contributors to the increase in mortality. Patients with severe ulcers, meaning DFUs involving the tendon, joint, or bone, had a higher mortality risk than those with superficial or pre-ulcerative lesions on initial presentation (Texas classification HR = 1.963, 95% CI: 1.063-3.617; Wagner-Meggitt classification HR = 1.889, 95% CI: 1.024-3.417, SINBAD Classification System and Score HR = 2.333, 95% CI: 1.258-4.326) after adjusting for confounding factors. (4) Conclusions: The findings of this study suggested that patients presenting with severe ulcers involving the tendon, joint, or bone exhibited a significantly higher risk of mortality, even when potential confounders were taken into consideration.

Does Metabolic Control Have Any Influence on the Clinical Presentation and Short-Term Outcomes of Diabetic Foot Infections?

Objective: We hypothesized that patients with poor glycemic control undergoing treatment for diabetic foot infections (DFIs) would have a poorer prognosis than those with better metabolic control assessed by glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c). Approach: We analyzed a retrospective cohort of 245 patients with moderate and severe DFIs. HbA1c values were dichotomized (<7% or ≥7% and ≤75th percentile (P75) and >P75) to analyze patient outcomes regarding metabolic control. The present study adhered to the STROBE guidelines for cohort studies. Results: One hundred sixty-nine patients (69%) were men. Their mean age was 60.7 years (10.8). HbA1c ≥7% was detected in 203 patients (82.9%). P75 HbA1c was 10.9%. After performing univariate analysis, we found an association of HbA1c <7% with major amputations and mortality. However, after applying the logistic regression model, we did not find HbA1c <7% to be a predictive factor of major amputation. The risk factors for mortality following application of Cox's proportional hazards model were osteomyelitis (HR: 0.2, 95% CI: 0.07-0.62, p < 0.01), eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m² (HR: 2.7, 95% CI: 1.0-7.5, p = 0.04), and HbA1c <7% (HR: 4.9, 95% CI: 1.8-13.2, p < 0.01). Innovation: The group with optimal glycemic control (HbA1c <7%) had a shorter survival time than those with worse metabolic control. Conclusions: We did not find a longer duration of hospitalization, a higher rate of amputations, or longer healing times in the groups with worse metabolic control. HbA1c <7% was a risk factor for mid-term mortality.

Global mortality of diabetic foot ulcer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of observational studies

AIM

To estimate the long-term mortality and risk factors in patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU).

METHODS

We systematically searched Medline (PubMed), Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, China Science and Technology Journal Database (CQVIP), China National Knowledge Infrastructure, the Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (SinoMed) and Wanfang Data from 1 January 2011 to 31 July 2022. All observational studies that reported long-term mortality of patients with DFU were included. Random effect models were used to pool the reconstructed participant data from Kaplan-Meier curves. The primary outcome was the long-term survival of patients with DFU. An aggregate data meta-analysis was also performed.

RESULTS

We identified 34 studies, with 124 376 participants representing 16 countries, among whom there were 51 386 deaths. Of these, 27 studies with 21 171 patients were included in the Kaplan-Meier-based meta-analysis. The estimated Kaplan-Meier-based survival rates were 86.9% (95% confidence interval [CI] 82.6%-91.5%) at 1 year, 66.9% (95% CI 59.3%-75.6%) at 3 years, 50.9% (95% CI 42.0%-61.7%) at 5 years and 23.1% (95% CI 15.2%-34.9%) at 10 years. The results of the aggregate data-based meta-analysis were similar. Cardiovascular disease and infection were the most common causes of death, accounting for 46.6% (95% CI 33.5%-59.7%) and 24.8% (95% CI 16.0%-33.5%), respectively. Patients with older age (per 1 year, hazard ratio [HR] 1.054, 95% CI 1.045-1.063), peripheral artery disease (HR 1.882, 95% CI 1.592-2.225), chronic kidney disease (HR 1.535, 95% CI 1.227-1.919), end-stage renal disease (HR 3.586, 95% CI 1.333-9.643), amputation (HR 2.415, 95% CI 1.323-4.408) and history of cardiovascular disease (HR 1.449, 95% CI 1.276-1.645) had higher mortality risk.

CONCLUSIONS

This meta-analysis found that the overall mortality of DFU was high, with nearly 50% mortality within 5 years. Cardiovascular disease and infection were the two leading causes of death.

Sex- and gender-differences in chronic long-term complications of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Italy

AIMS

This review summarizes the contribution of Italian diabetologists devoted to a better understanding of the complex relationship linking sex/gender and long-term complications of type 1 (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM) over the last fifteen years.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Microvascular and macrovascular complications of diabetes show sex- and gender-related differences, involving pathophysiological mechanisms, epidemiological features and clinical presentation, due to the interaction between biological and psychosocial factors. These differences greatly impact on the progression of diabetes and its long-term complications, especially in the cardiovascular, renal and liver districts.

CONCLUSION

A better knowledge of such sex- and gender-related characteristics is required for a more precise patient phenotypization, and for the choice of a personalized antihyperglycemic treatment. Despite such mounting evidence, current diabetes clinical guidelines do not as yet adequately consider sex/gender differences.

Limb Salvage in Severe Diabetic Foot Infection

Severe diabetic foot infections (DFI) are both limb threatening and life threatening and associated with negative impact on health-related quality of life. Most severe DFIs require surgical intervention, and the goal of treatment should be preservation of limb function in addition to eradication of infection. Minor amputations are required in approximately 40% and major amputations in approximately 20% of patients. Significant risk factors for lower extremity amputation included male gender, smoking, previous amputation, osteomyelitis, peripheral artery disease, retinopathy, severe infections, gangrene, neuroischemic diabetic foot infections, leukocytosis, positive wound cultures, and isolation of gram-negative bacteria.