Metabolic dysfunction‐associated fatty liver disease in the elderly with diabetic foot ulcers: A longitudinal cohort study

Abstract

AbstractThis study aimed to explore the association between metabolic‐associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) and ulcer recurrence risk in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) through an ambispective longitudinal cohort. From December 2013 to December 2022, a total of 482 inpatients with DFUs (PEDIS grade 3 and above with a severe infection) were eligible for inclusion in this study. This was an ambispective longitudinal cohort study. All participants were followed up every 6 months for 9 years with a median of 36 months. According to whether having MAFLD or not, all subjects were placed into two groups: non‐MAFLD (n = 351) and MAFLD (n = 131). The association between MAFLD and ulcer recurrence in patients with DFUs was then evaluated through multivariate Cox regression analysis, stratified analyses and Kaplan–Meier survival analysis. Throughout the follow‐up period, out of 482 subjects with DFUs, 68 had ulcer recurrence (14.1%). Three Cox regression models were established for data analyses. In the model I (unadjusted), MAFLD was significantly associated with the ulcer recurrence rate in patients with DFUs (HR = 1.79; 95% CI = 1.097–2.92; p = 0.02). Model II (adjusted model I with gender and age) (HR = 1.781; 95% CI = 1.09–2.912; p = 0.021) and model III (adjusted model II with CVD, duration of diabetes and Cr.) (HR = 1.743; 95% CI = 1.065–2.855; p = 0.027) also showed that MAFLD was significantly related to the ulcer recurrence risk in patients with DFUs, respectively. Stratified analysis indicated that subjects aged ≥60 had a greater risk of ulcer recurrence in MAFLD than in non‐MAFLD (HR = 2.31; 95% CI = 1.268–4.206; p = 0.006). Kaplan–Meier survival curve analysis showed that ulcer recurrence rate had a significant association with MAFLD (log‐rank, p = 0.018). This study indicated a close association between ulcer recurrence risk and MAFLD in patients with DFUs, especially in the elderly (aged ≥60). Therefore, special attention should be paid to the elderly with both DFUs and MAFLD because they have a higher ulcer recurrence rate than other general populations in routine clinical practice.