title: The silent overall burden of foot disease in a representative hospitalised population.
abstract: The aims of this study were to investigate the point prevalence, and associated independent factors, for foot disease (ulcers, infections and ischaemia) in a representative hospitalised population. We included 733 (83%) of 883 eligible adult inpatients across five representative Australian hospitals on one day. We collected an extensive range of self-reported characteristics from participants. We examined all participants to clinically diagnose foot disease (ulcers, infections and ischaemia) and amputation procedures. Overall, 72 participants (9·8%) [95% confidence interval (CI):7·2-11·3%] had foot disease. Foot ulcers, in 49 participants (6·7%), were independently associated with peripheral neuropathy, peripheral arterial disease, previous foot ulcers, trauma and past surgeon treatment (P < 0·05). Foot infections, in 24 (3·3%), were independently associated with previous foot ulcers, trauma and past surgeon treatment (P < 0·01). Ischaemia, in 33 (4·5%), was independently associated with older age, smokers and past surgeon treatment (P < 0·01). Amputation procedures, in 14 (1·9%), were independently associated with foot infections (P < 0·01). We found that one in every ten inpatients had foot disease, and less than half of those had diabetes. After adjusting for diabetes, factors linked with foot disease were similar to those identified in diabetes-related literature. The overall inpatient foot disease burden is similar in size to well-known medical conditions and should receive similar attention.
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.|Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.|Allied Health Research Collaborative, Metro North Hospital & Health Service, Brisbane, QLD,, Australia.|Wound Management Innovation Cooperative Research Centre, Brisbane, QLD,, Australia.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lazzarini
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.|Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Sheree E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Hurn
authors.affiliation: Allied Health Research Collaborative, Metro North Hospital & Health Service, Brisbane, QLD,, Australia.|School of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, QLD,, Australia.
authors.forename: Suzanne S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Kuys
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Maarten C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Kamp
authors.affiliation: Allied Health Research Collaborative, Metro North Hospital & Health Service, Brisbane, QLD,, Australia.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Department of Podiatry, North West Hospital & Health Service, Mount Isa, QLD,, Australia.
authors.forename: Courtney
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.affiliation: Department of Podiatry, West Moreton Hospital & Health Service, Queensland Health, Ipswich, QLD,, Australia.
authors.forename: Scott
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jen
authors.affiliation: Department of Podiatry, Central Queensland Hospital & Health Service, Rockhampton, QLD,, Australia.
authors.forename: Jude
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wills
authors.affiliation: Allied Health Research Collaborative, Metro North Hospital & Health Service, Brisbane, QLD,, Australia.
authors.forename: Ewan M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Kinnear
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.|Department of Endocrinology & Diabetes, Metro North Hospital & Health Service, Brisbane, QLD,, Australia.
authors.forename: Michael C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: d'Emden
authors.affiliation: School of Clinical Sciences, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.|Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
authors.forename: Lloyd F
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Reed
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Factors; Foot disease; Foot wounds; Inpatients; Prevalence