Increased incidence of lower limb amputation for arterial occlusive disease

The number of amputations in Malmöhus county with just over 500 000 inhabitants had increased from 14 to 161 during the years 1910-79 measured each fifth year comprising totally 724 observations. The number of amputations compared to the age related incidence 1979 had increased four times. Age, diabetes mellitus and sex proportions of ischemic amputees were studied and compared to other Scandinavian reports over the last 30 years. The proportion of diabetic amputees (0.37) and the male proportion (0.54) seemed unchanged, but the proportion of amputees at least 80 years old had increased from about 0.09 to 0.38.