Lower extremity amputation episodes among persons with diabetes--New Mexico, 2000.

Lower extremity amputation (LEA) is one of the most disabling complications of diabetes. Lower extremity problems tend to recur among persons because of underlying complications, including the loss of "protective" sensation. To define the burden of LEA among persons with diabetes in New Mexico, the New Mexico Diabetes Prevention and Control Program (DPCP) analyzed data from the Hospital Inpatient Discharge Database (HIDD) and the Santa Fe Indian Hospital (SFIH) from 2000 by linking hospital discharges to persons to create "episodes" of LEA. This report summarizes the findings of that analysis, which indicated that the age-adjusted rate of LEA by episode was approximately 3.5 times higher for American Indians (AIs) (11.4 per 1,000 persons with diabetes) than for non-Hispanic whites (3.3). To address this disparity, DPCP is collaborating with the Indian Health Service (IHS) to determine the needs for foot-care resources and education in AI communities.