Impact of Diabetic Foot Multidisciplinary Unit on Incidence of Lower-Extremity Amputations by Diabetic Foot

Abstract

Background: One of the most devastating complications of diabetes is diabetes-related foot disease (DFD), which is a priority for public health systems. The 2016–2020 Catalonia Health Plan aimed to reduce the incidence of total and major lower-extremity amputations (LEAs) due to DFD by 10% in the population aged 45–74 years. The aim of the present study was to compare the incidence of LEA-DFD 5 years before and after the creation of the Diabetic Foot Multidisciplinary Unit at our Hospital. Methods: We prospectively collected all cases of LEA-DFD performed at Vall d’Hebron University Hospital from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2020. Cases of LEA-DFD performed from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015 were retrospectively reviewed. The incidence of LEA-DFD between these periods was compared. Results: A total of 457 LEAs due to DFD were performed in 316 patients. We observed a reduction of 27.9% [CI: 23.7–32.1%] in the incidence of total LEA in the 2016–2020 period in comparison with the period 2011–2016 (0.8 ± 0.1 vs. 1.1 ± 0.3 per 10.000 inhabitants/year, p < 0.001), as well as a reduction of 49.3% [CI: 44.6–53.9%] in the incidence of major LEA-DFD (0.15 ± 0.1 vs. 0.30 ± 0.1 per 10.000 inhabitants/year, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The implementation of a Diabetic Foot Multidisciplinary Unit resulted in a significant reduction in the rate of amputations due to DFD in the population with diabetes in North Barcelona.