Reporting of social demographics in diabetic foot ulcer randomized controlled trials: a scoping review

Diabetic foot ulcerations (DFUs) remain a major public health issue, disproportionately affecting diverse populations. The extent to which race, ethnicity, and social demographics are reported in randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on graft treatments for DFU remains unclear.

To assess the reporting frequency of these patient characteristics and social determinants of health in order to provide insight into providing more representative, evidence-based care.

Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, a scoping review of PubMed was conducted for RCTs on graft treatment for DFU published in the years 2014 to 2024. Studies were screened for the reporting and analysis of demographics, including age, sex, race, ethnicity, and social determinants of health.

Among 63 studies, 100% reported age, 98% reported sex, and 67% reported weight or body mass index. Race and ethnicity were reported in 46% and 27% of studies, respectively. Insurance and socioeconomic class were noted in 2% and 3% of studies, respectively, with no income data reported. Bivariate or multivariate analyses of these variables in relation to outcomes were performed for age (10%), sex (13%), race (11%), and ethnicity (8%).

Reporting of race, ethnicity, and social determinants of health in RCTs on grafting for DFU is limited. Given the effect of these factors on outcomes, future studies should prioritize them to improve research representation and patient care.