Incidence and characteristics of diabetic foot ulcers in subjects with type 2 diabetes in Catalonian primary care centres: An observational multicentre study. Issue 6 (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Bundó, Magdalena; Llussà, Judit; Serra, Marta; la Iglesia, Paloma Prats de; Gimbert, Rosa M.; Real, Jordi; Vlacho, Bogdan; Mata-Cases, Manel; Cos, Xavier; Franch-Nadal, Josep; Mauricio, Dídac
• Is Part Of: Primary care diabetes. Volume 15:Issue 6(2021)
• Page Start: 1033
• Page End: 1039
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Clinical characteristics -- Diabetic foot ulcer -- Incidence -- Primary care -- Prospective study; Diabetes -- Periodicals; 616.462
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pcd.2021.08.002
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1751-9918

Abstract

Highlights: The annual incidence of a new DFU was 0.42% in the primary health care setting in our region. More than half of the participants had peripheral arterial disease. About 8.9% of participants had a history of amputation. Almost half of the ulcers had signs of infection. One in four of the ischemic ulcers were infected. Abstract: Aims: The main objective was to assess the incidence of diabetic foot ulcers in type 2 diabetes individuals from primary care centres in Catalonia, Spain. Methods: Prospective observational study in 36 Primary Care centres in Catalonia during February 2018 and July 2019 was conducted. We included participants with type 2 diabetes and a new foot ulcer. We estimated the annual foot ulcer incidence and described the characteristics: presence of comorbidities, clinical parameters and the characteristics of the diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) at inclusion in the study. Results: The incidence of a new DFU during the 12-month recruitment period was 0.42%. The mean age of the participants was 72.2 years (± 12.7), the majority of them were males (n = 178; 69.5%). Overall, 43.8% of DFUs were located on the dorsal aspect of toes or interdigital spaces. A percentage of 43.4% of the participants had ulcers of less than 1 cm2 surface. Further, 44.1% of the participants had a neuroischemic, 20.3% a neuropathic, 20.3% an ischemic ulcer. A 25.3% of ulcers with a concomitant peripheral artery disease were infected. Conclusions: Although the incidence found was low, our study shows the great complexity of patients with foot ulcers treated in primary care.