title: Factors Associated With Ulcer Healing and Quality of Life in Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcer.
abstract: A prospective nonrandomized cohort study on consecutive diabetic patients with foot ulcer was undertaken to assess the factors associated with the healing process or limb salvage and evaluate the impact of their treatment on their quality of life. Quality of life was evaluated using Diabetic Foot Ulcer Scale-Short Form (DFS-SF) questionnaire before and after treatment. A total of 103 diabetic patients with ulcer (mean age 69.7 ± 9.6 years, 77% male) were treated and followed up for 12 months. Ulcer healing, minor amputation, and major amputation rates were 41%, 41%, and 18%, respectively, while the mortality rate was 18%. Ulcer healing was associated with University of Texas wound grade 1 and the Study of Infections in Diabetic feet comparing Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability of Ertapenem versus Piperacillin/Tazobactam trial's diabetic foot infection wound score. Limb loss was associated with nonpalpable popliteal artery, longer in-hospital stay, and delay until referral. Quality of life was improved in all domains of DFS-SF ( P < .0001) throughout the cohort of our patients regardless of their outcome, and no outcome (healing, minor amputation, or major amputation) was superior to other. Significant improvement was observed in all domains of hygiene self-management after consultation during the follow-up period.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Konstantinos
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spanos
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Vasileios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Saleptsis
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Athanasoulas
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Christos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karathanos
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Endocrinology, University Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bargiota
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Vascular Surgery, Sheffield Vascular Institute, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Vascular Surgery, University Hospital of Larissa, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Giannoukas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000671:Amputation, Surgical; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D023821:Limb Salvage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D012648:Self Care; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: diabetic foot; limb loss; quality of life; ulcer