Incidence, risk factors for amputation among patients with diabetic foot ulcer in a Chinese tertiary hospital

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of amputation among patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and risk factors for amputations. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 450 inpatients treated in a multi-discipline based diabetic centre, 306th Hospital of PLA during the period of January 2000-September 2009. Hospital admission and discharge information including patient profile, grade of DFU, comorbidities and complications, laboratory data and final outcome were collected. The risk factors for amputation were determined using univariate and stepwise logistic regression analysis. Results: The overall amputation rate among DFU was 21.5%. Significant univariate risk factors for amputation were peripheral vascular disease (PVD), white blood cell (WBC) counts, neutrophil granulocyte percentage, hemoglobin, triglyceride, cholesterol, LDL-C, HDL-C and serum sCRP. Upon stepwise logistic regression analysis, only PVD (odds ratio 4.529, 95% CI 1.500-13.676), WBC (odds ratio 1.146, 95% CI 1.075-1.222), sCRP (odds ratio 1.041, 95% CI 1.002-1.082) and triglyceride (odds ratio -0.488, 95% CI 0.433-0.869) were significant risk factors. Conclusions: The risk factors for amputation were presence of PVD, increased WBC, sCRP and decreased triglyceride. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.