Ulcer-free survival days and ulcer healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: A prospective cohort study
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Authors: Akturk A, van Netten JJ, Scheer R, Vermeer M, van Baal JG.
Publication: International Wound Journal
Year: 2019
Abstract
Healing rates may not give a complete indication of the effectiveness and management of diabetic foot ulcers because of high recurrence rates. The most important outcome for patients is remaining ulcer-free; however, this has hardly been investigated. The aim of our study was to prospectively investigate ulcer-free survival days and ulcer healing in patients with diabetic foot ulcers. This was a prospective cohort study of all referrals to our diabetic foot expertise centre from December 2014 to April 2017. Outcomes were determined after a minimum follow-up period of 12 months. Primary outcomes were ulcer-free survival days and 12-month healing percentages. Predictors for ulcer-free survival days and healing were investigated in multivariate analyses. A total of 158 patients were included. Median ulcer-free survival days in the healed group were 233 days (interquartile range [IQR] 121-312) and 131 days (IQR 0-298) in the overall population. The healing rate at 12-month follow up was 67% (106/158), and the recurrence rate was 31% (33/106). Independent predictors of ulcer-free survival days were duration of diabetes, peripheral artery disease (PAD), cardiovascular disease, end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and infection. Ulcer-free survival days are related to PAD and cardiovascular disease, and ulcer-free survival days should be the main outcome when comparing the effectiveness of management and prevention of the diabetic foot ulcers.
- Listing ID: 9141
- Author/s: Akturk A, van Netten JJ, Scheer R, Vermeer M, van Baal JG.
- Publication: International Wound Journal
- Year: 2019
- Volume: 16
- Issue: 6
- Start Page: 1365
- Article Keywords: diabetic foot ulcers; ulcer healing; ulcer-free survival days.