Albuminuria is a predictive factor of in-hospital mortality in patients with diabetes admitted for foot disease

Life expectancy of patients with diabetic foot sepsis post-lower extremity amputation at a regional hospital in a South African setting. A retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

Diabetes foot sepsis (DFS) is the leading cause of amputation of lower extremities. Over 50 % of patients who have had major lower extremity amputation due to DFS are dead within 4 years following the procedure.

AIM

To determine the life expectancy of patients following amputation for DFS at a regional hospital in South Africa.

METHODS

We conducted an audit of patients who had DFS and were admitted over a 5-year period. The duration from admission to time of death was recorded in days. Occurrence of death was confirmed from family members of the deceased using structured telephonic interview questionnaires. Categorical findings were summarized using actual counts and percentages and compared using either the Chi-square or Fisher's exact test. We used the mean with standard deviation or median and range to compare parametric and non-parametric continuous data, respectively. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test normality of data. Multivariate logistic regression was done to establish factors that were strongly associated with the mortalities. Adjusted survival curves were added to compare the rate of occurrence of mortality between males and females with age as a confounder. Statistical significance was set at a p-value below 0.05.

RESULTS

197 were found of which 100 % of participants had Type 2 diabetes mellitus and 63.5 % were males. Associated comorbidities included hypertension in 73.6 %, obesity in 66 %, alcohol use in 64.5 % and smoking in 58.4 %. 190 participants had an amputation and 19.3 % died.

CONCLUSION

DFS was more common in males and 96 % of the patients had an amputation. Mortality rate within 4 years following amputation was 19.3 % and was higher in females and individuals with multiple comorbidities.

Diabetes foot complications and standardized mortality rate in type 2 diabetes

AIM

To quantify the impact of foot complications on mortality outcomes in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), and how routinely measured factors might modulate that risk.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data for individuals with T2D for 2010-2020, from the Salford Integrated Care Record (Salford, UK), were extracted for laboratory and clinical data, and deaths. Annual expected deaths were taken from Office of National Statistics mortality data. An index of multiple deprivation (IMD) adjusted the standardized mortality ratio (SMR_IMD). Life years lost per death (LYLD) was estimated from the difference between expected and actual deaths.

RESULTS

A total of 11 806 T2D patients were included, with 5583 new diagnoses and 3921 deaths during 2010-2020. The number of expected deaths was 2135; after IMD adjustment, there were 2595 expected deaths. Therefore, excess deaths numbered 1326 (SMR_IMD 1.51). No foot complications were evident in n = 9857. This group had an SMR_IMD of 1.13 and 2.74 LYLD. In total, 2979 patients had any foot complication recorded. In this group, the SMD_IMR was 2.29; of these, 2555 (75%) had only one foot complication. Patients with a foot complication showed little difference in percentage HbA1c more than 58 mmol/mol. In multivariate analysis, for those with a foot complication and an albumin-to-creatinine ratio of more than 3 mg/mmol, the odds ratio (OR) for death was 1.93, and for an estimated glomerular filtration rate of less than 60 mL/min/1.73m2 , the OR for death was 1.92.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with T2D but without a foot complication have an SMR_IMD that is only slightly higher than that of the general population. Those diagnosed with a foot complication have a mortality risk that is double that of those without T2D.

Albuminuria as a predictor of mortality in type II diabetic patients after living-donor liver transplantation

PURPOSE

Diabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of morbidity and mortality after liver resection. Albuminuria is associated with a higher risk for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality. This study evaluated albuminuria as a predictor of the outcome of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) in patients with pre-existing DM.

METHODS

This retrospective study involved 103 type II diabetic patients with end-stage liver disease who received LDLT. Preoperative spot urine albumin: creatinine ratio was used to determine the degree of albuminuria. The primary outcome measure was the impact of urinary albumin excretion on the 3-year mortality rate after LDLT in this diabetic cohort.

RESULTS

Hepatitis C virus infection was the main cause of cirrhosis. Albuminuria was detected in 41 patients (39.8%); 15 had macroalbuminuria, while 26 had microalbuminuria. Patients with microalbuminuria were significantly older than those with macroalbuminuria and normal albumin in urine. After 3 years, twenty-four patients (23.3%) died within 3 years after LT. Myocardial infarction was the leading cause of death (25%). Albuminuria was an independent factor affecting 3-year mortality with an odds ratio of 5.17 (95% CI: 1.86-14.35).

CONCLUSION

Preoperative albuminuria is an independent factor affecting mortality within 3 years after LDLT in type II diabetic patients. Myocardial infarction was the leading cause of death in 25% of cases, followed by hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence, sepsis, and graft failure.KEY MESSAGESDiabetes mellitus (DM) increases the risk of morbidity and mortality after liver resection.Albuminuria is associated with a higher risk for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality.Preoperative albuminuria is a significant predictor of mortality within 3 years after LDLT in diabetic patients.

Narrative Review of the Relationship Between CKD and Diabetic Foot Ulcer

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are 2 significant complications of diabetes mellitus (DM). Up to 40% of patients with DM are expected to also develop CKD, and 19% to 34% will suffer from DFU during their lifetimes. However, data on the link between podiatric risk and the extent of CKD are scarce. Neuropathy, a key element of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) classification, nevertheless appears to be related to the CKD stage. The incidence of DFU and its poor evolution also appear to be linked to the stage of CKD, with mortality reaching its peak in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Whatever, the decrease in the rate of diabetic foot amputation observed worldwide, especially for major amputations, is also observed in patients with ESRD. Specific actions taken for patients undergoing dialysis seems to improve the DFU prognosis. CKD and DFU share a number of elements of pathophysiology, the first of which is peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Uremic neuropathy and nutritional status also seem to create a link between the development of the 2 complications. This literature review provides an update on the complex and dynamic relationship between DFU and CKD. It examines the epidemiologic link between CKD and diabetic foot risk, CKD and DFU occurrence, and CKD and DFU prognosis. It focuses on the pathophysiological links between these 2 complications. Finally, it highlights the actions taken to improve management in the ESRD population that have reduced the rate of major amputations in this population by more than half.

Severity of albuminuria as an early indicator for wound healing in type 2 diabetic foot ulcers

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the severity of albuminuria and wound healing in type 2 diabetic foot ulcers. A total of 121 patients with diabetic foot ulcers were recruited from January 2015 to June 2017 and divided into nonproliferation and proliferation groups according to their healing status. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression were performed to assess the risk factors of wound proliferation. Skin biopsies were also taken from normal tissue near the wound in 54 participants. The microvessel density as well as the relationships among the microvessel density, albuminuria and wound proliferation were evaluated. Results showed that in a multiple linear regression model, factors including body-mass index, microalbuminuria, and macroalbuminuria showed independently significant association with wound healing in patients. The receiver operating characteristic curve analysis indicated albuminuria as a predicator for wound healing with a cutoff value of 32 mg/g. Meanwhile, normoalbuminuric patients showed significantly higher level of skin microvessels density than microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria patients, while microalbuminuria patients also had statistically more microvessels that macroalbuminuria patients. The microvessel density were statistically significantly higher in the proliferation group than that in the nonproliferation group. In summary, this study suggested that albuminuria can be used as an independent indicator for the healing of type 2 diabetic foot ulcers.

Predictors of intra-hospital mortality in patients with diabetic foot ulcers in Nigeria: data from the MEDFUN study

BACKGROUND

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are associated with high morbidity and mortality globally. Mortality in patients hospitalized for DFU in Nigeria is unacceptably high. This study was undertaken to determine factors that predict mortality in patients hospitalized for DFU in Nigeria.

METHODS

The current study was part of Multi-centre Evaluation of Diabetic Foot Ulcer in Nigeria (MEDFUN), an observational study conducted in six tertiary healthcare institutions across the 6 geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Consecutive type 1 or 2 diabetic patients hospitalized for DFU who consented to participate were recruited and subjected to relevant clinical, biochemical, and radiological assessments and multidisciplinary care until discharge or death. Data for type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients were expunged from current mortality analysis due to their small number.

RESULTS

Three hundred and twenty-three type 2 DM subjects with mean age and mean duration of DM of 57.2 ± 11.4 years and 8.7 ± 5.8 years respectively participated in this study. The median duration of ulcers was 39 days with a range of 28 to 54 days and the majority (79.9%) presented with advanced ulcers of at least Wagner grade 3. Mortality of 21.4% was recorded in the study, with the highest mortality observed among subjects with Wagner grade 5. Variables significantly associated with mortality with their respective p values were DM duration more than 120 months (p 0.005), ulcer duration > 1 month (p 0.020), ulcer severity of Wagner grade 3 and above (p 0.001), peripheral arterial disease (p 0.005), proteinuria (p < 0.001), positive blood cultures (p < 0.001), low HDL (p < 0.001), shock at presentation (p < 0.001), cardiac failure (p 0.027), and renal impairment (p < 0.001). On Multivariate regression analysis, presence of bacteraemia (OR 5.053; 95% CI 2.572-9.428) and renal impairment (OR 2.838; 95% CI 1.349-5.971) were significantly predictive of mortality independent of other variables.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed high intra-hospital mortality among patients with DFU, with the majority of deaths occurring among those with advanced ulcers, bacteraemia, cardiac failure, and renal impairment. Prompt attention to these factors might help improve survival from DFU in Nigeria.

Risk factors affecting amputation in diabetic foot

Background

A diabetic foot is the most common cause of non-traumatic lower extremity amputations (LEA). The study seeks to assess the risk factors of amputation in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU).

Methods

The study was conducted on 351 patients with DFUs from January 2010 to December 2018. Their demographic characteristics, disease history, laboratory data, ankle-brachial index, Wagner classification, osteomyelitis, sarcopenia index, and ulcer sizes were considered as variables to predict outcome. A chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to test the relationship of the data gathered. Additionally, the subjects were divided into two groups based on their amputation surgery.

Results

Out of the 351 subjects, 170 required LEA. The mean age of the subjects was 61 years and the mean duration of diabetes was 15 years; there was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of these averages. Osteomyelitis (hazard ratio [HR], 6.164; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.561−10.671), lesion on percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (HR, 2.494; 95% CI, 1.087−5.721), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.981−0.999), ulcer size (HR, 1.247; 95% CI, 1.107−1.405), and forefoot ulcer location (HR, 2.475; 95% CI, 0.224−0.73) were associated with risk of amputation.

Conclusion

Osteomyelitis, peripheral artery disease, chronic kidney disease, ulcer size, and forefoot ulcer location were risk factors for amputation in diabetic foot patients. Further investigation would contribute to the establishment of a diabetic foot risk stratification system for Koreans, allowing for optimal individualized treatment.

Meta-analysis of risk factors for amputation in diabetic foot infections

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of risk factors is crucial to develop management and treatment protocols for the prevention of lower extremity amputation for patients with diabetic foot infections (DFIs).

METHODS

We searched the research literature for studies reporting risk factors for lower extremity amputation in patients with DFI. The main outcome variables included both minor and major amputations. This study was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, and the protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42018118543).

RESULTS

A total of 2471 potential articles from the database search met the inclusion criteria. After reviewing the titles, abstracts, and full texts, remaining 25 articles were included in the final analysis. We identified 6132 patients with DFI in the 25 included articles. Of these, 1873 patients who underwent amputation were investigated. Male gender (odds ratio [OR]: 1.31), smoking (OR: 1.38), history of amputation (OR: 1.47), history of osteomyelitis (OR: 1.94), peripheral arterial disease (OR: 2.35), retinopathy (OR: 1.32), International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot (IWGDF) grades 3 and 4 (OR: 1.7 and 2.5), Wagner grades 4 and 5 (OR: 4.3 and 6.4), gangrene/necrosis (OR: 9.9), osteomyelitis (OR: 4.5), neuroischaemic DFI (OR: 3.06), severe infection (OR: 3.12), length of hospitalization (standardized mean difference [SMD]: 0.7), leukocytosis (OR: 1.76), mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) (SMD: 0.5), mean C-reactive protein (CRP) (SMD: 0.8), tissue culture positivity (OR: 1.61), and isolation of Gram-negative bacteria from tissue culture (OR: 1.5) were found as predictors of amputation in DFI.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study highlighted some differences in diabetic foot ulcers and DFIs in terms of risk factors for lower extremity amputation. These data provide detailed information about risk factors for amputations among patients with DFI, thus contributing to the creation of new classification systems for assessment of high-risk patients.

Factors associated with In-Hospital Mortality among Patients with Diabetes Admitted for Lower Extremity Infections

Objective

To determine the factors associated with in-hospital mortality among diabetic patients admitted for lower extremity infection.

Methodology

This is a retrospective analysis of diabetic patients with lower extremity infection admitted at the UPPhilippine General Hospital. Data was analyzed through multiple logistic regression after multiple imputation was performed for missing data.

Results

441 patients with diabetes were included in the analysis, of which 98.1% have Type 2 diabetes mellitus; 58.1% were males and the mean age of the cohort was 56.7±11.1 years. The mortality rate was 11.1% over the 3-year period from 2015 to 2017, of which 46% died from myocardial infarction (MI). Multivariate logistic regression showed the following were associated with increased likelihood of in-hospital mortality: non-performance of surgery (OR=4.22, 95%CI 1.10-16.27, p=0.036), elevated BUN (OR=1.06, 95%CI 1.01-1.11, p=0.016), MI (OR=27.19, 95%CI 6.38-115.94, p=0.000), respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation (OR=26.14, 95%CI 6.28-108.80, p=0.000), gastrointestinal bleeding (OR=10.08, 95%CI 1.87-54.38, p=0.007), hospital-acquired pneumonia (OR=9.46, 95%CI 2.52-35.51, p=0.001) and shock (OR=7.09, 95%CI 2.17-23.22, p=0.001).

Conclusion

In the in-patient setting, morbidity and mortality is high among diabetic patients with lower extremity infection. Non-performance of surgery, elevated BUN, MI, respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation, gastrointestinal bleeding, hospital acquired pneumonia and shock are associated with in-hospital death.

Inpatient screening for albuminuria and retinopathy to predict long-term mortality in type 2 diabetic patients: a retrospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

There is a high hospitalization rate for diabetic patients. Since retinopathy and albuminuria are both important manifestations of microvascular disease in diabetes, our aim was to investigate the effect of retinopathy and albuminuria on long-term mortality in type 2 diabetic inpatients through this observational cohort study.

METHODS

Type 2 diabetic inpatients given a primary diagnosis of poor glucose control were consecutively enrolled during their hospitalization periods. Clinical information was collected through review of each patient's medical records, and mortality data were obtained from the national registry in Taiwan.

RESULTS

A total of 761 type 2 diabetic inpatients were enrolled in the study with a median follow-up period of 6.6 years (interquartile range, 4.0-9.6 years). Patients in the Albuminuria(-)/Retinopathy(+), Albuminuria(+)/Retinopathy(-) and Albuminuria(+)/Retinopathy(+) groups had significantly higher risks of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality than those in the Albuminuria(-)/Retinopathy(-) group. However, among patients with albuminuria, there was no significant difference in cumulative mortality between those with and without retinopathy (P = 0.821). A decrease in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), but not retinopathy, was an independent predictor of all-cause mortality (95% CI 0.647‒0.893; P < 0.001) and cardiovascular mortality (95% CI 0.564‒0.921; P = 0.009) in type 2 diabetic inpatients with albuminuria.

CONCLUSIONS

Albuminuria in type 2 diabetic inpatients is a strong predictor of long-term mortality after discharge from the hospital. Retinopathy is an independent predictor of mortality in type 2 diabetic inpatients without albuminuria but not in those with albuminuria. A low eGFR is a better predictor of mortality than retinopathy in type 2 diabetic inpatients with albuminuria.

Risk Factors for Foot Amputation in Patients Hospitalized for Diabetic Foot Infection

The aim of this study was to identify and quantify risk factors for amputation in diabetic patients hospitalized for foot infections. This cross-sectional study comprised 100 patients with diabetic infectious complications in the lower limbs. The variables investigated were related to diabetes, infection, and treatment compliance. Multiple Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the variables independently associated with the outcome of amputation. The most prevalent chronic complications were neuropathy and hypertension. Most patients presented with a neuroischemic foot (86%). The Morisky test showed that 72% were not compliant with diabetes treatment. Regarding patient outcome, 61% progressed to amputation, 14% to debridement, and 9% to revascularization. The results showed a 42% higher risk for progression to amputation in patients with previous use of antimicrobials. Also, the amputation risk was 26% higher for those less compliant with diabetes treatment. An increase of one point in the Wagner ulcer classification criteria corresponded to a 65% increase in the risk of amputation. Undergoing conservative, nonsurgical procedures prior to admission provided a 63% reduction in the risk of amputation. Knowledge of these factors is critical to enable multidisciplinary teams to develop treatment plans for these patients so as to prevent the need for amputation.