title: Diabetes or war? Incidence of and indications for limb amputation in Lebanon, 2007.
abstract: Chronic diseases such as diabetes and vascular disease are a major public health problem in Lebanon, where primary care is not well developed. This study aimed to describe the incidence and indications for limb amputation in Lebanon and identify associated factors (age, sex, level of surgery, length of hospital stay). There were 1.6 amputations per 10 000 persons. The rate of amputation was highest in southern Lebanon at 3.8 per 10 000. The most important indication for surgery was diabetes (59%). Diabetic patients were older (mean age 73 years versus 30 years), more likely to have major surgery (OR = 7.87; 95% CI: 2.83-21.9) and stay in hospital longer (RR = 4.56, 95% CI: 2.41-8.64) than patients with trauma-related amputation. Diabetes prevention, detection and management should be prioritized in any attempt to reduce the current incidence of amputation in Lebanon.
authors.affiliation: Bone and Joint Decade, Beirut, Lebanon.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yaghi
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yaghi
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: McDonald
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yadegarfar
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cecil
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seidl
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rawaf
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Majeed
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D000673:Amputation, Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007861:Lebanon / Q000453:epidemiology; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D012111:Residence Characteristics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery*; D014857:Warfare; D055815:Young Adult