Incidence and characteristics of diabetic foot ulcers in subjects with type 2 diabetes in Catalonian primary care centres: An observational multicentre study

Abstract

AimsThe main objective was to assess the incidence of diabetic foot ulcers in type 2 diabetes individuals from primary care centres in Catalonia, Spain. MethodsProspective observational study in 36 Primary Care centres in Catalonia during February 2018 and July 2019 was conducted. We included participants with type 2 diabetes and a new foot ulcer. We estimated the annual foot ulcer incidence and described the characteristics: presence of comorbidities, clinical parameters and the characteristics of the diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) at inclusion in the study. ResultsThe incidence of a new DFU during the 12-month recruitment period was 0.42%. The mean age of the participants was 72.2 years (± 12.7), the majority of them were males (n = 178; 69.5%). Overall, 43.8% of DFUs were located on the dorsal aspect of toes or interdigital spaces. A percentage of 43.4% of the participants had ulcers of less than 1 cm2 surface. Further, 44.1% of the participants had a neuroischemic, 20.3% a neuropathic, 20.3% an ischemic ulcer. A 25.3% of ulcers with a concomitant peripheral artery disease were infected. ConclusionsAlthough the incidence found was low, our study shows the great complexity of patients with foot ulcers treated in primary care.