Elderly individuals with diabetes and foot ulcer have a probability for healing despite extensive comorbidity and dependency

• BACKGROUND: Limited scientific evidence for prevention and treatment of diabetic foot ulcers in elderly with comorbidities.AIM: To explore patient-related factors and outcomes in patients ≥75 years with diabetes and a foot ulcer.METHOD: Sub-analysis of consecutively presenting patients ≥75 years (N = 1008) from a previous study on 2,480 patients with diabetic foot ulcer treated in a multidisciplinary system until healing. Patient characteristics: age - 81(75-96); diabetes type 2-98.7%; male/female - 49/51%; living with a spouse - 47%; nursing home 16%; or with home nursing 64%.RESULT: Primary healing was achieved in 54%, minor amputation 8%, major amputation 9%, auto-amputation 2%, and 26% of the patients died unhealed. Among the oldest (88-96 years), 31% healed without any amputation. Extensive comorbidities were frequent: neuropathy 93%, visual impairment 73%, cardiovascular disease 60%, cerebrovascular disease 34%, and severe peripheral disease in 29% of the patients. Out of patients (80%) living in institutions or dependent on home nursing, 56% healed without amputation, compared to 44% of patients living in their own home without any support from social services or home nursing.CONCLUSION: Healing without major amputation was achieved in 84% of surviving patients ≥75 years, despite extensive comorbidity and dependency.

Ämnesord

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Omvårdnad (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Nursing (hsv//eng)

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin -- Endokrinologi och diabetes (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine -- Endocrinology and Diabetes (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Amputation

complications

diabetes mellitus

diabetic foot ulcers

healing

home nursing

neuropathy

peripheral vascular disease

Amputation

complications

diabetes mellitus

diabetic foot ulcers

healing

home nursing

neuropathy

peripheral vascular disease

Publikations- och innehållstyp

ref (ämneskategori)

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