Cost-effectiveness of telemonitoring screening for diabetic foot ulcer: a mathematical model

Cost-effectiveness of temperature monitoring to help prevent foot ulcer recurrence in people with diabetes: A multicenter randomized controlled trial

AIMS

Diabetes-related foot ulcers are common, costly, and frequently recur. Multiple interventions help prevent these ulcers. However, none of these have been prospectively investigated for cost-effectiveness. Our aim was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of at-home skin temperature monitoring to help prevent diabetes-related foot ulcer recurrence.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Multicenter randomized controlled trial. We randomized 304 persons at high diabetes-related foot ulcer risk to either usual foot care plus daily at-home foot skin temperature monitoring (intervention) or usual care alone (control). Primary outcome was cost-effectiveness based on foot care costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALY) during 18 months follow-up. Foot care costs included costs for ulcer prevention (e.g., footwear, podiatry) and for ulcer treatment when required (e.g., consultation, hospitalisation, amputation). Incremental cost-effectiveness ratios were calculated for intervention versus usual care using probabilistic sensitivity analysis for willingness-to-pay/accept levels up to €100,000.

RESULTS

The intervention had a 45% probability of being cost-effective at a willingness-to-accept of €50,000 per QALY lost. This resulted from (non-significantly) lower foot care costs in the intervention group (€6067 vs. €7376; p = 0.45) because of (significantly) fewer participants with ulcer recurrence(s) in 18 months (36% vs. 47%; p = 0.045); however, QALYs were (non-significantly) lower in the intervention group (1.09 vs. 1.12; p = 0.35), especially in those without foot ulcer recurrence (1.09 vs. 1.17; p = 0.10).

CONCLUSIONS

At-home skin temperature monitoring for diabetes-related foot ulcer prevention compared with usual care is at best equally cost-effective. The intervention resulted in cost-savings due to preventing foot ulcer recurrence and related costs, but this came at the expense of QALY loss, potentially from self-monitoring burdens.

The Impact of Underlying Conditions on Quality-of-Life Measurement Among Patients with Chronic Wounds, as Measured by Utility Values: A Review with an Additional Study

Significance: Quality of life (QoL) is important to patients with chronic wounds and is rarely formally evaluated. Understanding what comorbidities most affect the individual versus their wounds could be a key metric. Recent Advances: The last 20 years have seen substantial advances in QoL instruments and conversion of patient data to a single value known as the health utilities index (HUI). We review these advances, along with wound-related QoL, and analyze real-world comorbidities challenging wound care. Critical Issues: To understand the impact of underlying comorbidities in a real-world patient population, we examined a convenience sample of 382 patients seen at a hospital-based outpatient wound center. This quality reporting study falls outside the regulations that govern human subject research. Comorbid conditions were used to calculate HUIs using a variety of literature-reported approaches, while Wound-Quality-of-Life (W-QoL) questionnaire data were collected from patients during their first visit. The mean number of conditions per patient was 8; 229 patients (59.9%) had utility values for comorbidities/conditions, which were worse/lower than their wounds' values. Sixty-three (16.5%) patients had depression and/or anxiety, 64 (16.8%) had morbid obesity, and 204 (53.4%) had gait and mobility disorders, all of which could have affected W-QoL scoring. The mean minimum utility value (0.5) was within 0.05 units of an average of 13 studies reporting health utilities from wound care populations using the EuroQol 5 Dimension instrument. Future Directions: The comorbidity associated with the lowest utility value is what might most influence the QoL of patients with chronic wounds. This finding needs further investigation.

Patients, carers and healthcare providers' perspectives on a patient-owned surveillance system for diabetic foot ulcer care: A qualitative study

Objective

Digital health has recently gained a foothold in monitoring and improving diabetes care. We aim to explore the views of patients, carers and healthcare providers (HCPs) regarding the use of a novel patient-owned wound surveillance application as part of outpatient management of patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs).

Methods

Semi-structured online interviews were conducted with patients, carers and HCPs in wound care for DFUs. The participants were recruited from a primary care polyclinic network and two tertiary hospitals in Singapore, within the same healthcare cluster. Purposive maximum variation sampling was used to select participants with differing attributes to ensure heterogeneity. Common themes relating to the wound imaging app were captured.

Results

A total of 20 patients, 5 carers and 20 HCPs participated in the qualitative study. None of the participants have used a wound imaging app before. Regarding a patient-owned wound surveillance app, all were open and receptive to the system and workflow for use in DFU care. Four major themes emerged from patients and carers: (1) technology, (2) application features and usability, (3) feasibility of using the wound imaging application and (4) logistics of care. Four major themes were identified from HCPs: (1) attitudes towards wound imaging app, (2) preferences regarding functionality, (3) perceived challenges for patients/carers and (4) perceived barriers for HCPs.

Conclusion

Our study highlighted several barriers and facilitators from patients, carers and HCPs regarding the use of a patient-owned wound surveillance app. These findings demonstrate the potential of digital health and areas to improve and tailor a DFU wound app suitable for implementation in the local population.

Development and Usability Evaluation of a Telemedicine System for Management and Monitoring of Patients with Diabetic Foot

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to develop and evaluate the usability of a telemedicine system for management and monitoring of patients with diabetic foot.Methods: This study was conducted in four phases. In the first phase, the information needs and characteristics required to design the telemedicine system were identified based on a literature review. Then, in a two-stage Delphi survey, 15 experts approved the identified information needs and characteristics. The prototype telemedicine system was then designed. In the third phase, system usability was evaluated through a semi-structured interview. In the fourth phase, users’ satisfaction with the designed system was analyzed.Results: Out of 115 information needs and required characteristics, 95 were considered in the system design. Eight main pages for enabling patient-physician interactions and physician-physician interactions, monitoring the patient and controlling the disease process, providing medical consultation, and prescribing medications were considered. In the third phase, 26 distinct problems were identified. However, 75% of the participants were very satisfied with the system.Conclusions: This study presents an attempt to design and evaluate a telemedicine system for the management and monitoring of patients with diabetic foot. In this system, patients receiving medical services or physicians who encounter rare cases can send the complete medical history, clinical test results, and videos and images related to the foot to specialist physicians. After examining the medical history or images and videos, the physician can provide the necessary medication prescriptions and laboratory tests or other recommendations.

Photobiomodulation and diabetic foot and lower leg ulcer healing: A narrative synthesis

PURPOSE

To provide a comprehensive narrative review and critical appraisal of research investigating photobiomodulation (PBM), formerly known as low level laser therapy which includes lasers and light emitting diodes (LEDs), as a treatment to promote diabetic foot and lower leg ulcer (DFU) healing for humans.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Pubmed, CINAHL, Scopus, and OVID Medline databases were used to find relevant studies published between January 2000 and January 2020. Reference lists of identified articles were scanned for additional studies that might have been missed in the database searches.

RESULTS

A total of 13 studies, with a total of 417 participants, were included in this review.

DISCUSSION

The studies were critically appraised using the PEDro scale, which revealed weaknesses in study designs such as small sample sizes and problems with reproducibility with respect to the laser protocols. Characteristics of PBM that improved wound healing were wavelengths of 630 nm-660 nm and infrared wavelengths of 850 or 890 nm, and radiant exposure levels of 3 J/cm²-7 J/cm². PBM was beneficial for superficial and deep DFUs. Controlled blood glucose levels and adherence to best practices (pressure off-loading, optimized wound dressing changes, appropriate debridement, etc.) could have been a factor in the beneficial outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Regardless of the laser characteristics chosen, in the majority of studies PBM as a treatment for DFUs improved healing rate when compared with standard wound care alone. However, weaknesses across the studies indicate that further research is required.

Epidemiology of Peripheral Neuropathy and Lower Extremity Disease in Diabetes

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy eventually affects nearly 50% of adults with diabetes during their lifetime and is associated with substantial morbidity including pain, foot ulcers, and lower limb amputation. This review summarizes the epidemiology, risk factors, and management of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and related lower extremity complications.

RECENT FINDINGS

The prevalence of peripheral neuropathy is estimated to be between 6 and 51% among adults with diabetes depending on age, duration of diabetes, glucose control, and type 1 versus type 2 diabetes. The clinical manifestations are variable, ranging from asymptomatic to painful neuropathic symptoms. Because of the risk of foot ulcer (25%) and amputation associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, aggressive screening and treatment in the form of glycemic control, regular foot exams, and pain management are important. There is an emerging focus on lifestyle interventions including weight loss and physical activity as well. The American Diabetes Association has issued multiple recommendation statements pertaining to diabetic neuropathies and the care of the diabetic foot. Given that approximately 50% of adults with diabetes will be affected by peripheral neuropathy in their lifetime, more diligent screening and management are important to reduce the complications and health care burden associated with the disease.

Assessing the Need for Mobile Health (mHealth) in Monitoring the Diabetic Lower Extremity

Background

Complications of the diabetic lower extremity (such as diabetic foot ulcers, DFUs) occur when monitoring is infrequent, and often result in serious sequelae like amputation or even death.

Objective

To evaluate the potential application of mobile health (mHealth) to diabetic foot monitoring. We surveyed the self-management routines of a group of diabetic patients, as well as patient and clinician opinions on the use of mHealth in this context.

Methods

Patients with DFUs in Toronto, Ontario, Canada completed a 25-item questionnaire addressing their foot care practices, mobile phone use, and views on mHealth. Wound care clinicians across Canada were also surveyed using a 9-item questionnaire.

Results

Of the patients surveyed, 59/115 (51.3%) spend less than a minute checking their feet, and 17/115 (15%) of patients find it difficult to see their doctor or get to the hospital regularly. Mobile phone use was widespread in our patient cohort (93/115, 80.9%). Of mobile phone users, 68/93 (73.1%) would use a device on their mobile phone to help them check their feet. Of the clinicians who completed the questionnaire, only 7/202 (3.5%) were familiar with mHealth; however, 181/202 (92%) of clinicians expressed interest in using mHealth to monitor their patients between visits.

Conclusions

Patient education or motivation and clinician training were identified as the major barriers to mHealth use in the diabetic lower extremity, which may be a viable mechanism to improve DFU monitoring practices.