title: Elevated costs and high one-year mortality in patients with diabetic foot ulcers after surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Denmark, approximately 300,000 patients have a diabetes mellitus diagnosis. Recently published guidelines emphasise that health-care professionals who are in direct contact with citizens should be aware of the importance of prevention and early detection of diabetic foot ulcers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the mortality, length of hospital stay and economic impact on health care in patients with acute diabetic foot ulcers who were hospitalised in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a prospective cohort study including all patients admitted with a diagnosis of acute foot ulcer to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Aalborg, Denmark, from September 2011 to February 2012.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 48 patients were referred for surgical treatment of a diabetic foot ulcer. The average age on admission was 64 years (35-87 years). The median length of hospital stay was 17 days (3-150 days), and 14 patients were readmitted within the first year. Within the first year of enrolment, 13 patients died, corresponding to a 36% mortality rate. Based on the Danish Diagnosis-Related Groups rates, the median cost associated with a case in the study population was 133,867 DKK.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients referred for surgical revision of diabetic foot ulcers are often severely ill, and the condition is associated with a high one-year mortality rate. Furthermore, the cost of these cases is considerable. Preventive interventions, early diagnosis and treatment and multidisciplinary interventions – before and during hospitalisation – should be implemented.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  not relevant.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  The Danish Data Protection Agency (J. No. 2008-58-0028) approved the study.
authors: Sund Info, Aalborg Universitetshospital, Hobrovej 18-22, 9000 Aalborg, Denmark. lise.soendergaard@rn.dk.
authors: Lise Nørregaard
authors: LN
authors: Søndergaard
authors: Anette Bundgaard
authors: AB
authors: Christensen
authors: Anker Lund
authors: AL
authors: Vinding
authors: Inge Lunding
authors: IL
authors: Kjær
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Larsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003718:Denmark; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000191:economics / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery*; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology