The Diabetic Foot Syndrome Today: A Pandemic Uprise

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is growing at epidemic proportions worldwide; currently 415 million adults are estimated to have diabetes and by 2040, this number is estimated to increase to 642 million. As a consequence, the prevalence of diabetes-related complications is bound to increase. Diabetic foot disorders are common throughout the world, resulting in major medical, social and economic consequences for the patients, and a public health problem. The risk for ulceration and amputation is much higher in individuals with diabetes compared to that of the non-diabetic population: it is estimated that every 20 s an amputation is performed on an individual with diabetes somewhere in the world. Foot ulceration is the commonest major end point among diabetic complications. More than 5% of diabetic patients have a history of foot ulceration and the cumulative lifetime incidence may be as high as 25%. Incidence and prevalence figures related to both foot ulcerations and lower extremity amputations have been reported worldwide. There is a substantial global variation in the incidence and prevalence of amputation and diabetic foot ulcer (DFU). The variation may be partially explained by differences in the measurement of amputation and DFU, as well as the ascertainment of diabetes, demographic factors, setting or other confounders. There is an urgent need to determine a standardized way to report the incidence and prevalence of diabetes-related amputation and foot ulcer in order to be able to be used as a marker of quality of care. (Less)