Predicting Diabetic Foot Ulcers
Foot ulcers and amputation are major problems for people with diabetes. Inthe June issue of Diabetes Care, a group of researchers from theSeattle Diabetic Foot Study published a report suggesting that readilyavailable clinical data can predict which patients are likely to develop footulcers.
Researchers followed 1,285 veterans with diabetes for an average 3.38 yearswith annual clinical exams and quarterly questionnaires. Among the physicalcharacteristics evaluated in the study, factors that were “significantpredictors” of foot ulcers include elevated glycated hemoglobin (A1C),impaired vision, prior foot ulcer, prior amputation, mono-filamentinsensitivity, tinea pedis, and onychomycosis.
Together these factors can be used in a risk score that is a powerfulpredictor of future foot ulcers and that can help identify patients needingintensive intervention.
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