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Is chronic diabetic foot ulcer an indicator of cardiac disease?

M Löndahl1, P Katzman, O Fredholm

  • 1Department of Endocrinology, Lund University Hospital, Sweden. magnus.londahl@skane.se

Journal of Wound Care
|January 24, 2008
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac dysfunction is prevalent in patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers, even those without prior heart conditions. Echocardiography screening is suggested for diabetic patients with chronic foot ulcers to detect underlying cardiac issues.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Diabetology
  • Vascular Medicine

Background:

  • Diabetic foot ulcers are a serious complication of diabetes mellitus.
  • Cardiovascular disease is a common comorbidity in diabetic patients.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the prevalence and severity of cardiac disease in patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers.
  • To evaluate the utility of echocardiography in screening for cardiac dysfunction in this population.

Main Methods:

  • Eighty patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers underwent clinical examination, toe blood pressure measurement, and echocardiography.
  • Data on medical history, including cardiovascular disease, were collected.

Main Results:

  • A high percentage of patients (69%) had a history of myocardial infarction, hypertension, or heart failure.
  • Echocardiography revealed signs of cardiac dysfunction (left ventricular dysfunction, hypertrophy, or diastolic dysfunction) in 78% of patients.
  • Notably, 76% of patients without a prior history of cardiovascular disease showed signs of cardiac dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiac dysfunction is frequently observed in patients with chronic diabetic foot ulcers.
  • Echocardiography can serve as a valuable screening tool for cardiac issues in this patient group.
  • Diabetic foot ulcers may indicate underlying cardiac disease, warranting further investigation.
Abstract

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