Bettina Hartmann1, Christian Fottner2, Karin Herrmann3, Tobias Limbourg4, Matthias M Weber2, Karlheinz Beckh5. 1. Department of Gastroenterology and Diabetology, Klinikum Ludwigshafen, Ludwigshafen, Germany hartmanb@klilu.de. 2. I. Medical Clinic, Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany. 3. Department of Gastroenterology and Diabetology, Klinikum Ludwigshafen, Ludwigshafen, Germany. 4. Stiftung IHF, Institut für Herzinfarktforschung, Ludwigshafen, Germany. 5. Department of Gastroenterology and Diabetology, Klinikum Worms, Worms, Germany.
Abstract
AIMS: A major proportion of patients with diabetic foot syndrome are older than 65 years. Little is known about outcomes of these elderly patients. METHODS: We analysed 245 treatment cases in an observational single-centre study for comorbidities and outcomes over a 6-month period. RESULTS: In all, 122 patients had peripheral arterial disease which was significantly increasing with age (n = 245, df = 1, χ2 = 23.06, p ⩽ 0.0001). Increasing age correlated positively with decreasing rate of revascularisations (n = 122, df = 1, χ2 = 4.23, p = 0.039). In total, 23 (9.3%) patients died in the observation period. In-hospital mortality was 2.8%, percentage of major amputations 2.8%. In the invasively treated subgroup, 13 out of 67 patients died within the observation period. Death after revascularisation was independent of age (n = 67, df = 1, χ2 = 2.05, p = 0.153). Mobility decreased in the whole study group with increasing age. The risk of decrease with age was not influenced by revascularisation status. CONCLUSION: With careful interdisciplinary evaluation, elderly patients with diabetic foot syndrome can be treated with favourable outcome. Mobility before and after treatment deserves more attention as a predictor of treatment success and outcome parameter.
AIMS: A major proportion of patients with diabetic foot syndrome are older than 65 years. Little is known about outcomes of these elderly patients. METHODS: We analysed 245 treatment cases in an observational single-centre study for comorbidities and outcomes over a 6-month period. RESULTS: In all, 122 patients had peripheral arterial disease which was significantly increasing with age (n = 245, df = 1, χ2 = 23.06, p ⩽ 0.0001). Increasing age correlated positively with decreasing rate of revascularisations (n = 122, df = 1, χ2 = 4.23, p = 0.039). In total, 23 (9.3%) patients died in the observation period. In-hospital mortality was 2.8%, percentage of major amputations 2.8%. In the invasively treated subgroup, 13 out of 67 patients died within the observation period. Death after revascularisation was independent of age (n = 67, df = 1, χ2 = 2.05, p = 0.153). Mobility decreased in the whole study group with increasing age. The risk of decrease with age was not influenced by revascularisation status. CONCLUSION: With careful interdisciplinary evaluation, elderly patients with diabetic foot syndrome can be treated with favourable outcome. Mobility before and after treatment deserves more attention as a predictor of treatment success and outcome parameter.