Prediction of diabetic foot ulcer healing in type 2 diabetic subjects using routine clinical and laboratory parameters

Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcers are associated with substantial morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. The aim of the study was to assess the validity and effectiveness of body mass index ( BMI) and hemoglobin A1c ( HbA1c) to predict foot ulcer healing in diabetic patients. We hypothesized that routine clinical and laboratory parameters may reliably predict the healing of diabetic foot ulcers. To validate this hypothesis, a single-center analytical study was carried out in 140 diabetic patients with foot ulceration ( from February 2014 to February 2015) in Al Qassim region of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The data collection included demographics, medical diagnoses, BMI measures, ulcer healing duration, and HbA1c results. The results show that BMI and HbA1c levels were strongly associated with the process as well as duration of foot ulcer healing in the diabetic patients. Higher BMI and elevated HbA1c were associated with poor prognosis in terms of foot ulcer healing. Future studies with concomitant use of both the predictors would be an interesting strategy.