Characteristics of Diabetic Foot Ulcer Patients Pre- and During COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learnt From a National Referral Hospital in Indonesia. (March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yunir, Em; Tarigan, Tri Juli Edi; Iswati, Eni; Sarumpaet, Angela; Christabel, Eunike Vania; Widiyanti, Delina; Wisnu, Wismandari; Purnamasari, Dyah; Kurniawan, Farid; Rosana, Martha; Anestherita, Fitri; Muradi, Akhmadu; Tahapary, Dicky L.
• Is Part Of: Journal of primary care & community health. Volume 13(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-03
• Subjects: diabetic foot ulcer -- COVID-19 -- infection -- amputation -- mortality -- waiting time to surgery; Primary health care -- Periodicals; Primary health care -- United States -- Periodicals; Community health services -- Periodicals; Community health services -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.12
• DOI: 10.1177/21501319221089767
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2150-1319

Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is one of the most terrifying diabetic complications for patients, due to the high mortality rate and risk for amputation. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many diabetic patients limited their visits to the hospital, resulting in delays for treatment especially in emergency cases. Objective: This study aimed to compare the characteristics of patients with DFU pre- and during COVID-19 pandemic period. Methods: This study was a retrospective cohort study using foot registry data. We compared our patients' characteristics pre-COVID-19 pandemic period (1 March 2019-28 February 2020) and during COVID-19 pandemic period (1 March 2020-28 February 2021). Results: Cohorts of 84 and 71 patients with DFU pre- and during COVID-19 pandemic period, respectively, were included in this study. High infection grade (66.7% vs 83.1%, P = .032), osteomyelitis event (72.6% vs 87.3%, P = .04), leukocyte count (15 565.0/μL vs 20 280.0/μL, P = .002), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (7.7 vs 12.1, P = .008), waiting time-to-surgery (39.0 h vs 78.5 h, P = .034), and number of major amputation (20.2% vs 39.4%, P = .014) were significantly higher during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Conclusion: During the COVID-19 pandemic, patients with DFU had more severe infection, higher proportion of osteomyelitis, longer waiting time for getting surgical intervention, and higher incidence of major amputation.