Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 11, 2025
12:00
A Simplified Technique for Producing an Ischemic Wound Model
Published on: May 2, 2012
17.5K
Diabetic foot ulcers: Retrospective comparative analysis from Sicily between two eras
Valentina Guarnotta1, Stefano Radellini1, Enrica Vigneri1
1Sezione di Malattie Endocrine, del Ricambio e della Nutrizione, Dipartimento di Promozione della Salute, Materno-Infantile, Medicina Interna e Specialistica di Eccellenza "G. D'Alessandro" (PROMISE), Università di Palermo, Palermo, Italy.
Plos One
|December 7, 2021
Summary
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) in Type 2 diabetes patients show high mortality. Key risk factors for death include advanced age at onset, reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Nephrology
- Vascular Surgery
Background:
- Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) represent a significant complication of Type 2 diabetes, associated with high morbidity and mortality.
- Understanding trends in DFU incidence, management, and outcomes is crucial for improving patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze changes in the incidence, management, and mortality of DFU in Type 2 diabetic patients.
- To compare outcomes between two distinct hospitalization eras (2008-2013 and 2014-2019) in Sicily.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 149 patients from 2008-2013 (era 1) and 181 patients from 2014-2019 (era 2).
- Comparison of demographic data, clinical characteristics, and mortality rates between the two eras.
- Multivariate Cox regression analysis to identify independent risk factors for mortality.
Main Results:
- Mortality rates for DFU patients were analyzed across genders and eras.
- Moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (CKD) was significantly associated with higher mortality (p < 0.001).
- Independent risk factors for mortality included moderate-severe CKD (OR 1.61), age at onset >69 years (OR 2.01), and eGFR < 92 ml/min (OR 2.84).
Conclusions:
- Diabetic foot ulcer patients experience high mortality and reduced life expectancy.
- Age at onset, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) values, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are principal risk factors for DFU-related mortality.
