Recurrence rates suggest delayed identification of plantar ulceration for patients in diabetic foot remission.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Foot ulcers are a common and costly complication of diabetes, and delays in treatment can result in impaired healing, infection, hospitalization, and lower extremity amputation.

Research design and methods

We aimed to determine whether patterns in plantar diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) recurrence coincided with typical intervals between routine preventive care appointments, which would suggest that delays exist between ulcer development and identification. We completed an analysis of existing data from two multicenter studies in 300 total participants. We analyzed unadjusted counts of DFU binned in weekly intervals and defined 'exam periods' as intervals from 2 to 4 weeks, from 6 to 8 weeks, within 1 week of 3 months and within 1 week of 6 months. We tested whether r

SUBMITTER: Petersen BJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7528350 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature