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

Abstract

Aims: The main objective was to assess the incidence of diabetic foot ulcers in type 2 diabetes individuals from primary care centres in Catalonia, Spain.

Methods: Prospective 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.

Results: The 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.

Conclusions: Although the incidence found was low, our study shows the great complexity of patients with foot ulcers treated in primary care.

Keywords: Clinical characteristics; Diabetic foot ulcer; Incidence; Primary care; Prospective study.