Outcomes of a multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Day Unit.

Area of Science:

• Diabetic Foot Care
• Vascular Surgery
• Podiatry

Background:

• Diabetic foot ulcers are a major cause of morbidity and mortality.
• Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a common complication in diabetic patients, exacerbating foot ulcer severity.
• Effective management requires understanding the interplay between diabetes, PAD, and foot health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze patient characteristics and health outcomes in a multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Unit.
• To evaluate the specific impact of peripheral artery disease (PAD) on diabetic foot ulcer patients.
• To compare outcomes between diabetic patients with and without PAD.

Main Methods:

• An observational prospective study included 273 patients over 14 months.
• Patients were categorized based on the presence or absence of PAD (distal pulses).
• Statistical analysis involved non-parametric tests for quantitative variables and chi-squared tests for qualitative variables.

Main Results:

• Patients with PAD were older, had a higher macrovascular burden, and a higher Texas Score.
• PAD was associated with significantly higher major amputation rates (12.3% vs. 1.4%).
• PAD patients had fewer previous ulcers but shorter episode durations and lower antibiotic needs.

Conclusions:

• Significant differences in outcomes between ulcers with and without vascular involvement necessitate specialized approaches.
• Inclusion of vascular surgeons in multidisciplinary teams is recommended for diabetic foot care.
• A multidisciplinary care model can effectively improve health outcomes for diabetic foot patients.