Illness Beliefs Predict Mortality in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Relaxation intervention to improve diabetic foot ulcer healing: protocol for a pilot study with a nested qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

A mixed-methods approach nested in a pilot three-arm randomised controlled trial (RCT) was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of an intervention of progressive muscle relaxation with guided imagery (experimental group) compared to a neutral guided imagery placebo (active control group) and a group that did not receive any psychological intervention (passive control group). The purpose was to inform a future definitive RCT that will test its effectiveness. Qualitatively, this study examined patients and health professionals' perspectives regarding the relaxation intervention, in order to assess the acceptability and applicability of relaxation as an adjuvant therapy.

METHOD

Participants must have had a diagnosis of diabetes and diabetic foot disease; one or two active hard-to-heal ulcers at the time of the assessment; and clinical levels of stress or anxiety or depression. Participants were randomised and assessed at three timepoints after the first hospital consultation for hard-to-heal diabetic foot ulcer (DFU).

RESULTS

Rates of eligibility, recruitment, refusal, adherence to study protocol, participation in follow-up and dropout, and patients' satisfaction with the relaxation intervention were assessed as primary outcomes. Secondary outcomes were DFU healing; patients' DFU-related quality of life; physical and mental quality of life; perceived stress; emotional distress; adherence to DFU care; perceptions of DFU; as well as arterial systolic/diastolic pressure and heart rate.

CONCLUSION

The results of this pilot study contributed to clarification and better elucidation of the benefits of relaxation techniques regarding patients' HRQoL and DFU healing.

DECLARATION OF INTEREST

Funding: This study was conducted at the Psychology Research Centre (CIPsi/UM) School of Psychology, University of Minho, Portugal and supported by the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the Portuguese State Budget (UIDB/01662/2020) and by a PhD fellowship from FCT assigned to GF (SFRH/BD/131780/2017) and an FCT grant (PTDC/PSI-GER/28163/2017) assigned to MGP. The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Educational Interventions on Diabetic Foot Self-Care: A Study Protocol for a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial

Diabetic foot is one of the most serious complications of diabetes and foot ulcer recurrence has been associated with poor foot care. Educational programs may work as a vehicle for promoting knowledge and adequate foot self-care behaviors, reducing potential ulcerative complications in the diabetic foot, and promoting a better quality of life. This study protocol will analyze the impact of two different educational strategies - an instructive video (Experimental Group 1) compared to a foot care leaflet with real-time guided reading (Experimental Group 2) and standard care (Control Group) - on adherence and knowledge about diabetic foot care and patients' perception of their foot health. This study is a Pragmatic Randomized Controlled Trial of a non-pharmacological treatment. Participants need to have a diabetic foot diagnosis and attend a Diabetic Foot Multidisciplinary Consultation at two hospitals from the North of Portugal. Participants will be assessed at the first appointment of the diabetic foot consultation (T0), two weeks after (T1), and three months later, at follow-up (T2). Primary outcomes will be adherence and knowledge about diabetic foot care and general foot health. Secondary outcomes will be illness representations regarding diabetic foot. The results of this study will inform educational interventions to decrease diabetic foot ulcers, amputation rates, and the costs associated with both, contributing to foot care adherence and improve patient's quality of life.

Healing profiles in patients with a chronic diabetic foot ulcer: An exploratory study with machine learning

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) are one of the most frequent and debilitating complications of diabetes. DFU wound healing is a highly complex process, resulting in significant medical, economic and social challenges. Therefore, early identification of patients with a high-risk profile would be important to adequate treatment and more successful health outcomes. This study explores risk assessment profiles for DFU healing and healing prognosis, using machine learning predictive approaches and decision tree algorithms. Patients were evaluated at baseline (T0; N = 158) and 2 months later (T1; N = 108) on sociodemographic, clinical, biochemical and psychological variables. The performance evaluation of the models comprised F1-score, accuracy, precision and recall. Only profiles with F1-score >0.7 were selected for analysis. According to the two profiles generated for DFU healing, the most important predictive factors were illness representations on T1 IPQ-B (IPQ-B ≤ 9.5 and < 10.5) and the DFU duration (≤ 13 weeks). The two predictive models for DFU healing prognosis suggest that biochemical factors are the best predictors of a favorable healing prognosis, namely IL-6, microRNA-146a-5p and PECAM-1 at T0 and angiopoietin-2 at T1. Illness perception at T0 (IPQ-B ≤ 39.5) also emerged as a relevant predictor for healing prognosis. The results emphasize the importance of DFU duration, illness perception and biochemical markers as predictors of  healing in chronic DFUs. Future research is needed to confirm and test the obtained predictive models.

Relaxation intervention to improve diabetic foot ulcer healing: Results from a pilot randomized controlled study

This pilot randomised controlled study (RCT) aimed to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a progressive muscle relaxation with guided imagery intervention (experimental group [EG]) compared to a neutral guided imagery placebo (active control group [ACG]) and standard care to diabetic foot ulcer [DFU] treatment (passive control group [PCG]), to decide on the need for a definitive RCT. Diabetic foot patients with one or two chronic DFU and significant levels of stress/anxiety/depression were recruited and assessed during a period of 6 months, at three moments. Primary outcomes: feasibility rates and satisfaction with relaxation sessions. Secondary outcomes: DFU healing score, DFU-related quality of life (DFUQoL), physical and mental HRQoL, stress and emotional distress, DFU representations, arterial blood pressure, and heart rate. A total of 146 patients completed the baseline (T0) assessment with 54 participants presenting significant distress being randomised into three groups. Patients were assessed 2 months post-intervention (T1) and 4 months after T1 (T2). Feasibility rates showed reduced values on eligibility, recruitment and inclusion in the study, although with an acceptable rate of refusal lower than 10%. On average, participants reported being satisfied with relaxation sessions and recommended them to other patients. Differences between groups showed that, at T1, PCG participants reported higher levels of stress than those from EG and ACG. Within-group differences showed improvements in stress, distress, DFUQoL and DFU extent over time only in EG and ACG. Only EG showed significant changes in DFU representations at T1. The results suggest that relaxation may be a promising coping strategy to deal with DFU distress and an important adjuvant therapy for DFU healing, supporting the implementation of a definitive RCT.

Wound healing and healing process in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: A survival analysis study

AIMS

This study aimed to identify demographic, clinical, and psychological contributors to DFU healing and favorable healing process.

METHODS

Patients with a chronic DFU were evaluated at baseline (T0; n = 153), two months later (T1; n = 108), and six months later (T2; n = 71). Patients were evaluated on health literacy, perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and illness perceptions. Cox proportional hazard models were built to analyze the predictors of DFU healing and favorable healing process (wound area reduction), including the assessment of time to achieve those outcomes.

RESULTS

More than half of patients had their DFU healed (56.1%) or showed a favorable healing process (83.6%). Median time for healing was 112 days, while for favorable process was 30 days. Illness perceptions were the only predictor of wound healing. Being female , with adequate health literacy, and a first DFU predicted a favorable healing process.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study showing that beliefs about DFU are significant predictors of DFU healing, and that health literacy is a significant predictor of a favorable healing process. Brief, comprehensive interventions should be implemented, at the treatment initial stage, in order to change misperceptions and to promote DFU literacy and better health outcomes.

Quality of Life in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Cross-sectional Study

OBJECTIVE

To analyze the associations among and contributions of sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological variables to quality of life (QoL) related to diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs; DFUQoL).

METHODS

The sample comprised 70 patients with DFUs who answered the following questionnaires: the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Illness Perception Questionnaire-Brief, Diabetic Foot Ulcer-Short Form, Medical Term Recognition test, and a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire. Pearson and biserial correlation coefficients, hierarchical regressions, and moderation analyses were conducted to study the relationships among variables.

RESULTS

The results showed that a large DFU, threatening representations about DFU, and more psychological distress were associated with lower DFUQoL. Also, more psychological distress, more threatening DFU representations, and taking antibiotics contributed to worse DFUQoL. Clinically significant levels of psychological distress moderated the relationship between the DFU extent and negative emotions.

CONCLUSIONS

This study showed that QoL and its domains were associated with psychological distress and that QoL was more influenced by DFU representations than by a larger-sized wound, emphasizing the importance of psychological interventions in the treatment of patients with DFUs.

A systematic review of illness perception interventions in type 2 diabetes: Effects on glycaemic control and illness perceptions

AIMS

This systematic review sought to synthesize the evidence regarding the effectiveness of illness perception interventions compared with control conditions at changing illness perceptions and improving glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Seven electronic databases were searched between October 2018 and May 2020. Randomized controlled trials that tested interventions informed by the Common-Sense Model in adults with type 2 diabetes, and measured illness perceptions and glycaemic control at pre- and post-intervention were included. The Cochrane risk of bias tool was used to assess risk of bias.

RESULTS

A total of 4095 articles were identified, of which nine randomized control trials (2561 participants) across 12 publications were included in this review. Findings showed that all the illness perception domains were modified in at least one trial, with the exception of cyclical timeline perceptions. Coherence, personal control, treatment control and chronic timeline perceptions were the most frequently modified perceptions. Glycaemic control demonstrated an improvement in the intervention group compared to the control group at 3 and 6 months post-intervention in two trials. Risk of bias assessment showed high risk of bias especially for the blinding of participants and the personnel domain.

CONCLUSIONS

There is limited evidence that interventions informed by the Common-Sense Model can improve glycaemic control in individuals with type 2 diabetes through changing inaccurate illness perceptions. Recommendations for future research are to tailor intervention content based on baseline perceptions, measure the emotional and causal domains, and involve family members in the intervention. (PROSPERO registration: CRD42019114532).

Psychological interventions for treating foot ulcers, and preventing their recurrence, in people with diabetes

BACKGROUND

Diabetic foot ulceration (DFU) can be defined as a full-thickness wound below the ankle and is a major complication of diabetes mellitus. Despite best practice, many wounds fail to heal, and when they do, the risk of recurrence of DFU remains high. Beliefs about personal control, or influence, on ulceration are associated with better engagement with self-care in DFU. Psychological interventions aim to reduce levels of psychological distress and empower people to engage in self-care, and there is some evidence to suggest that they can impact positively on the rate of wound healing.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effects of psychological interventions on healing and recurrence of DFU.

SEARCH METHODS

In September 2019, we searched the Cochrane Wounds Specialised Register; the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL), Ovid MEDLINE (including In-Process & Other Non-Indexed Citations), Ovid Embase, Ovid PsycINFO and EBSCO CINAHL Plus. We also searched clinical trials registries for ongoing and unpublished studies, and reviewed reference lists of relevant included studies as well as reviews, meta-analyses and health technology reports to identify additional studies. There were no restrictions with respect to language, date of publication or study setting.

SELECTION CRITERIA

We included randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs that evaluated psychological interventions compared with standard care, education or another psychological intervention. Our primary outcomes were the proportion of wounds completely healed; time to complete wound healing; time to recurrence and number of recurrences.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Four review authors independently screened titles and abstracts of the studies identified by the search strategy for eligibility. Three authors independently screened all potentially relevant studies using the inclusion criteria and carried out data extraction, assessment of risk of bias and GRADE assessment of the certainty of the evidence.

MAIN RESULTS

We identified seven trials that met the inclusion criteria with a total of 290 participants: six RCTs and one quasi-RCT. The studies were conducted in Australia, the USA, the UK, Indonesia, Norway and South Africa. Three trials used a counselling-style intervention and one assessed an intervention designed to enhance an understanding of well-being. One RCT used a biofeedback relaxation training intervention and one used a psychosocial intervention based on cognitive behavioural therapy. A quasi-RCT assessed motivation and tailored the intervention accordingly. Due to the heterogeneity of the trials identified, pooling of data was judged inappropriate, and we therefore present a narrative synthesis. Comparisons were (1) psychological intervention compared with standard care and (2) psychological intervention compared with another psychological intervention. We are uncertain whether there is a difference between psychological intervention and standard care for people with diabetic foot ulceration in the proportion of wounds completely healed (two trials, data not pooled, first trial RR 6.25, 95% CI 0.35 to 112.5; 16 participants, second trial RR 0.59, 95% CI 0.26 to 1.39; 60 participants), in foot ulcer recurrence after one year (two trials, data not pooled, first trial RR 0.67, 95% CI 0.32 to 1.41; 41 participants, second trial RR 0.63, 95% CI 0.05 to 7.90; 13 participants) or in health-related quality of life (one trial, MD 5.52, 95% CI -5.80 to 16.84; 56 participants). This is based on very low-certainty evidence which we downgraded for very serious study limitations, risk of bias and imprecision. We are uncertain whether there is a difference in the proportion of wounds completely healed in people with diabetic foot ulceration depending on whether they receive a psychological intervention compared with another psychological intervention (one trial, RR 2.33, 95% CI 0.92 to 5.93; 16 participants). This is based on very low-certainty evidence from one study which we downgraded for very serious study limitations, risk of bias and imprecision. Time to complete wound healing was reported in two studies but not in a way that was suitable for inclusion in this review. One trial reported self-efficacy and two trials reported quality of life, but only one reported quality of life in a manner that enabled us to extract data for this review. No studies explored the other primary outcome (time to recurrence) or secondary outcomes (amputations (major or distal) or cost).

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

We are unable to determine whether psychological interventions are of any benefit to people with an active diabetic foot ulcer or a history of diabetic foot ulcers to achieve complete wound healing or prevent recurrence. This is because there are few trials of psychological interventions in this area. Of the trials we included, few measured all of our outcomes of interest and, where they did so, we judged the evidence, using GRADE criteria, to be of very low certainty.

Illness perceptions predict mortality in patients with predialysis chronic kidney disease: a prospective observational study

BACKGROUND

Illness perceptions have been shown to predict a range of psychosocial and clinical outcomes in kidney disease; including quality of life, distress, treatment adherence and even survival in end-stage renal disease patients on dialysis. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether illness perceptions impact mortality in incident predialysis Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) patients.

METHODS

Over the study period between September 2015 and June 2019, a total of 200 participants with predialysis CKD were recruited from the Nephrology Outpatient's clinics at Mater Dei Hospital, Malta. The participants were followed up until June 2019, and the mortality information was collected. Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between illness perceptions, and mortality risk, after adjustment for covariates including distress, kidney function, co-morbidity and psychological distress.

RESULTS

Of the 200 cases available for analysis, there were 43 deaths. The mean survival time was 718.55 days (min. 3 days, max. 1297 days). The cumulative survival 1-year post the assessment of the Revised Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (IPQ-R) was 93%. Stronger identity beliefs (HR = 1.199, 95% CI: 1.060-1.357, p = 0.004), perceptions of a chronic timeline (HR = 1.065, 95% CI: 1.003-1.132, p = 0.041), personal control beliefs (HR = 0.845, 95% CI: 0.748-0.955, p = 0.007) and perceptions of control over the treatment (HR = 0.812, 95% CI: 0.725-0.909, p = 0.000) demonstrated a significant association with mortality after controlling covariates. In a subsequent saturated model, perceived identity, chronic timeline and treatment control perceptions remained significant predictors of mortality, together with serum albumin, comorbidities and urea.

CONCLUSIONS

CKD patients' perceptions of treatment control, perceptions of a chronic timeline and perceived illness identity predict survival independently of clinical prognostic factors, including kidney function and co-morbidity. Illness perceptions are important and potentially modifiable risk factors in CKD. Further studies are required to test whether the assessment and the implementation of psychological interventions aimed to modify maladaptive illness perceptions influence clinical outcomes in CKD.

Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions for the prevention and treatment of foot ulcers in people with diabetes: a systematic review

AIM

To identify and synthesize the evidence for the effectiveness of psychosocial interventions to promote the healing, and/or reduce the occurrence of, foot ulceration in people with diabetes.

METHODS

In March 2019 we searched CENTRAL, Medline, Embase and PsycInfo for randomized controlled trials of interventions with psychosocial components for people with diabetes. The primary outcomes of this review were foot ulceration and healing. We assessed studies using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool, the TIDieR checklist and GRADE. We conducted narrative synthesis and random-effects meta-analysis.

RESULTS

We included 31 randomized controlled trials (4511 participants), of which most (24 randomized controlled trials, 4093 participants) were prevention studies. Most interventions were educational with a modest psychosocial component. Ulceration and healing were not reported in most studies; secondary outcomes varied. Evidence was of low or very low quality because of high risks of bias and imprecision, and few studies reported adherence or fidelity. In groups where participants had prior ulceration, educational interventions had no clear effect on new ulceration (low-quality evidence). Two treatment studies, assessing continuous pharmacist support and an intervention to promote understanding of well-being, reported healing but their evidence was also of very low quality.

CONCLUSION

Most psychosocial intervention randomized controlled trials assessing foot ulcer outcomes in people with diabetes were prevention studies, and most interventions were primarily educational. Ulcer healing and development were not well reported. There is a need for better understanding of psychological and behavioural influences on ulcer incidence, healing and recurrence in people with diabetes. Randomized controlled trials of theoretically informed interventions, which assess clinical outcomes, are urgently required. (PROSPERO registration: CRD42016052960).

Distinct Distress Symptom Trajectories Over 3 Years Are Associated With Baseline Illness Perceptions in Individuals With Coronary Heart Disease

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety symptoms (termed distress) are common among coronary heart disease (CHD) patients and associated with poor outcomes. Illness perceptions predict distinct outcome trajectories in other long-term conditions, yet it is not known how they relate to distress trajectories in CHD.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine whether baseline illness perceptions are associated with distress symptom trajectories among primary care CHD patients.

METHODS

This is a secondary analysis of 803 CHD patients from the UPBEAT-UK study, who completed the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale every 6 months for 3 years. Baseline assessments included the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire. Using latent class growth analysis, Palacios et al. (2018) identified five distinct distress symptom trajectories ("stable low," "chronic high," "improving," "worsening," and "fluctuating") in this cohort. Adjusted multinomial logistic regression analyses were used to test the association between baseline illness perceptions and distress symptom trajectories.

RESULTS

Compared with the stable low distress trajectory, stronger illness identity (odds ratio [OR] = 1.31, p < .01), higher perceived consequences (OR = 1.47, p < .01), illness-related emotion (OR = 1.66, p < .01), and illness concerns (OR = 1.36, p < .01) increased the odds of having chronic high distress. Stronger illness coherence (OR = 0.89, p < .05) and personal (OR = 0.77, p < .01) and treatment control (OR = 0.75, p < .01) reduced the odds of chronic high distress. Worsening distress symptoms were associated with weaker perceptions of treatment control, higher perceived consequences, and greater illness-related concerns and emotions.

CONCLUSIONS

Illness perceptions of CHD are associated with distress symptom trajectories. Therapeutically modifying unhelpful illness perceptions in CHD patients who experience high levels of distress could potentially improve mental health outcomes.

Reasons for (non-)adherence to self-care in people with a diabetic foot ulcer

We aimed to explore reasons for (non-)adherence to self-care among people with diabetic foot ulcers, as well as barriers and solutions to improving their self-care adherence. We performed a qualitative study, recruiting people with a diabetic foot ulcer from a community diabetic foot clinic. Semistructured interviews were held with participants. Data saturation occurred after 9 and was confirmed after 11 participant interviews. Interviews were audio-taped, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using the framework approach. Findings were mapped and the World Health Organization's (WHO) adherence dimensions were applied to themes identified. The key themes identified were (1) participants performed recommended practices in self-care; (2) participants relied heavily on care support; (3) motivations for self-care came from "staying well"; and (4) there was a disparity between self-care knowledge and understanding. Barriers identified included poor mobility and visibility, difficulty wearing offloading devices or using wound dressings, and frustration with lack of progress. Solutions to improve adherence included integrating self-care as routine, improved education, more external help and improving visibility. All five WHO adherence dimensions played a role in (non-)adherence to diabetic foot ulcer self-care. We conclude that adherence to recommended diabetic foot ulcer self-care was limited at best, and reasons for nonadherence were multidimensional. Based on the factors related to (non-)adherence and the barriers and solutions described, we suggest clinicians obtain a broad view of a person's situation when aiming to improve self-care adherence.

A nursing metaparadigm perspective of diabetic foot ulcer care

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a serious complication of diabetes that impact on the patient, their social environment, overall health, and on nursing practice. Nursing scholars have integrated theories on practice to overcome these problems, but a lack of agreement in the available literature acts as a barrier to implementing these in practice. For that reason, using a nursing metaparadigm as a theoretical framework would assist nurses in managing care purposefully and proactively, thus possibly improving outcomes. There has been little discussion about the nursing metaparadigm in relation to DFU care. This article aims to identify why Fawcett's theory of the nursing metaparadigm is important as a fundamental part of DFU care. Understanding this will help to elucidate the phenomenon of DFUs. Moreover, identifying the elements of the DFU care framework is essential to improve reflective practice and intervention. This article discusses the concept of the nursing metaparadigm and its implications for practice in the care of patients with DFUs.

Self-reported adherence to foot care in type 2 diabetes patients: do illness representations and distress matter?

Aim

This study examined the differences and the predictive role of clinical variables, illness representations, anxiety, and depression symptoms, on self-reported foot care adherence, in patients recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and assessed no longer than a year after the diagnosis (T1) and four months later (T2).

Background

The high rate of diabetes worldwide is one of the major public health challenges. Foot care is the behavior least performed by patients although regular foot care could prevent complications such as diabetic foot and amputation. Psychosocial processes such as illness representations and distress symptoms may contribute to explain adherence to foot self-care behaviors.

Methods

This is a longitudinal study with two assessment moments. The sample included 271 patients, who answered the Revised Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities, Brief-Illness Perception Questionnaire, and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale.

Findings

Patients reported better foot care adherence at T2. Having a higher duration of T2DM and the perception of more consequences of diabetes were associated with better self-reported foot care adherence, at T1. At T2, the predictors were lower levels of HbA1c, better self-reported foot care adherence at T1, higher comprehension about T2DM, as well as fewer depressive symptoms. Interventions to promote adherence to foot care should have in consideration these variables. The results of the present study may help health professionals in designing interventions that early detect depressive symptoms and address illness beliefs, in order to promote foot self-care behaviors reducing the incidence of future complications.

A qualitative study of the experience of lower extremity wounds and amputations among people with diabetes in Philadelphia

The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions among people with type 2 diabetes about foot ulcers and lower extremity amputations. This was a qualitative observational study utilizing open-ended, semistructured interviews of 39 people with diabetes who were purposively selected because they had either a foot ulcer (n = 19) or a lower extremity amputation (n = 20). Interviews were audio-recorded, deidentified, and entered into NVivo 10.0 for coding and analysis. Our integrated analytic approach combined inductively and deductively derived codes that were applied to all transcripts. Coded data were summarized and examined for patterns. Participants' description of the relationship between diabetes and their foot ulcer or amputation revealed a limited understanding of the disease process. Disruption and loss of independence was expressed whether the person had a foot ulcer or an amputation. Treatment recommendations for foot ulcers were viewed by most as extremely difficult. Amputation was a feared outcome, but some learned to adapt and, at times felt that the amputation enhanced their quality of life. Clinicians have assumed that a focus on limb salvage is preferred over a major amputation. However, because of the complexity of care requiring frequent healthcare provider visits, the frequency of care failure, the frequency of recurrence, and mortality associated with having had a foot ulcer, it may be more appropriate for clinicians to prioritize quality-of-life salvage. Foot ulcer treatment failure may be due to a lack of providers' understanding of the impact of treatment on a patient's life.

Hamilton rating scale for depression-24 (HAM-D24) as a novel predictor for diabetic microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients

The study was designed to investigate whether the hamilton rating scale for depression (24-items) (HAM-D₂₄) can be used to predict the diabetic microvascular complications in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients. 288 hospitalized patients with T2DM were enrolled. Their diabetic microvascular complications including diabetic nephropathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetic foot as well as demographic, clinical data, blood samples and echocardiography were documented. All the enrolled patients received HAM-D₂₄ evaluation. The HAM-D₂₄ score and incidence of depression in T2DM patients with each diabetic microvascular complication were significantly higher than those in T2DM patients without each diabetic microvascular complication. After the adjustment of use of insulin and hypoglycemic drug, duration of T2DM, mean platelet volume, creatinine, albumin, fasting glucose, glycosylated hemoglobin type A1C, left ventricular ejection fraction, respectively, HAM-D₂₄ score was still significantly associated with diabetic microvascular complications (OR = 1.188-1.281, all P < 0.001). The AUC of HAM-D₂₄ score for the prediction of diabetic microvascular complication was 0.832 (0.761-0.902). 15 points of HAM-D₂₄ score was considered as the optimal cutoff with the sensitivity of 0.778 and specificity of 0.785. In summary, HAM-D₂₄ score may be used as a novel predictor of diabetic microvascular complications in T2DM patients.

Illness Perceptions and Mortality in Patients With Gout: A Prospective Observational Study

OBJECTIVE

To examine whether illness perceptions independently predict mortality in early-onset gout.

METHODS

Between December 2006 and January 2014, a total of 295 participants with early-onset gout (<10 years) were recruited in Auckland and Wellington, New Zealand. The participants were followed up until February 2015, and mortality information was collected. Participants with complete data were included in the current study (n = 242). Cox proportional hazards models were used to examine the association between illness perceptions and mortality risk, after adjustment for covariates associated with disease severity and mortality in gout.

RESULTS

In a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for predictors of disease severity and mortality in gout (number of tophi, serum urate level, and frequency of flares), consequence beliefs, identity beliefs, concern beliefs, and emotional response to gout were associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratios [HRs] 1.29, 1.15, 1.18, and 1.19, respectively; P < 0.05 for all). In the fully saturated model, the association between consequence beliefs and mortality remained robust after additional adjustment for ethnicity, disease duration, diuretic use, serum creatinine, and pain score (HR 1.18 [95% confidence interval 1.02-1.37]; P = 0.029).

CONCLUSION

Negative beliefs about the impact of gout and severity of symptoms, as well as concerns about gout and the emotional response to gout, were independently associated with all-cause mortality. Illness perceptions are important and potentially modifiable risk factors to target in future interventions.