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Major Lower-Limb Amputation During the COVID Pandemic in South India
Vijay Viswanathan1, Sukanya Nachimuthu1
1M.V. Hospital for Diabetes & Prof. M. Viswanathan Diabetic Research Centre, Chennai, TN, India.
Insights
The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown led to a 54.1% rise in diabetes-related lower-limb amputations. This increase highlights the need for consistent access to foot care specialists to prevent such outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Medicine
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Individuals with diabetes face a significantly higher risk of lower-limb amputations compared to the general population.
- The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and associated lockdown measures have been linked to an increased risk of avoidable lower-limb amputations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown on the incidence of major lower-extremity amputations in patients with diabetes.
- To compare amputation rates during the prepandemic and pandemic periods.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective, single-centered study was conducted.
- Data on major amputations (below-knee and above-knee) were collected and analyzed for two periods: prepandemic (March 25, 2019-December 31, 2019) and pandemic (March 25, 2020-December 31, 2020).
Main Results:
- A total of 24 major amputations were performed during the prepandemic period.
- During the pandemic period, 37 major amputations were performed, representing a 54.1% increase.
- Factors contributing to this rise may include missed hospital visits, poor diet, medication nonadherence, and physical inactivity.
Conclusions:
- The COVID-19 pandemic has had an indirect adverse effect on individuals with diabetes, leading to an increased incidence of lower-extremity amputations.
- This rise in amputations can significantly impact patients' quality of life.
- Ensuring routine and accessible care from foot-care specialists is crucial for preventing avoidable amputations in this vulnerable population.
Abstract:
People with diabetes have a higher risk of lower-limb amputations than people without diabetes. The risk of avoidable lower-limb amputations has increased in the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) lockdown period. Hence, we conducted a retrospective, single-centered study on major amputations during the prepandemic period (March 25, 2019-December 31, 2019) and pandemic period (March 25, 2020-December 31, 2020). During the prepandemic period, 24 major amputations (below-knee and above-knee amputations) were performed and during the pandemic period, 37 major amputations were performed. There was a 54.1% increase in major amputations noted in the pandemic period more than the prepandemic period. This increase may also be due to irregular/missed hospital visits, improper diet, nonadherence to the medications, and physical inactivity. This study shows the indirect effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with diabetes, resulting in the increased incidence of lower-extremity amputations (below-knee and above-knee amputations) which might cause a drastic impact on their quality of life. This study also emphasizes the importance of easy and routine access to foot-care specialists to prevent avoidable amputations.
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