Diabetes-related lower-limb amputations in Australia

Objective: To identify the prevalence of diabetes-related lower-limb amputations and its regional variations in Australia. Design and setting: Cross-sectional analysis of a hospital morbidity dataset in Australia. Methods: Analysis of the National Hospital Morbidity Database of all hospital separations for the ICD codes 84.10-84.19 (lower-limb amputations) and 250.0-250.9 (diabetes and its complications) for the financial years 1995-96 to 1997-98. Main outcome measure: Number of lower-limb amputations in people with diabetes mellitus in Australia, and in each State and Territory. Results: 7887 diabetes-related lower-limb amputations were reported during the study period, with a mean rt SD of 2629 +/- 47 per year. The prevalence in Australia was 13.97 per 100 000 total population, and varied from 11.34 per 100 000 in the Australian Capital Territory to 20.68 per 100 000 in South Australia. Conclusion: Diabetes-related lower-limb amputation poses a substantial personal and public health cost in Australia.