A history of foot ulcers is associated with an increased risk of mortality among community-dwelling adults and elderly people with diabetes, according to a 10-year follow-up of the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT 2).
The risk persisted after adjustment for comorbidity and depression scores, suggesting the need for close monitoring, said Marjolein M. Iversen of Bergen (Norway) University, and associates.
The study included 155 diabetic persons with a history of foot ulcers, 1,339 diabetic persons without a history of foot ulcers, and 63,632 nondiabetic persons, followed for 10 years with mortality as the end point (Diabetes Care 2009 Sept. 3 [doi: 10.2337/dc09-0651]).
In a Cox regression analysis, having a history of foot ulcers was associated with more than a twofold (2.29 [95% confidence interval 1.82-2.88]) hazard risk for mortality, versus those in the nondiabetic group, and a 47% increase in mortality, versus diabetic persons without a history of foot ulcers.