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Table 1 Variables extracted and their frequency distribution among 128 patient-episodes of lower limb infection and/or gangrene

From: Chronic neuropathic ulcer is not the most common antecedent of lower limb infection or amputation among diabetics admitted to a regional hospital in Jamaica: results from a prospective cohort study

Demographic, behavioural & historical variables

Clinical, test and outcome variables

Age – mean (range) in years)

58.4 (28–94)

Blood glucose on admission – mean (range) in mmol/L

20.4 (5.6–42)

Sex - no.(%) female)

82 (64.1 %)

Insulin dependent – yes (%)

82 (64.1 %)

aSocial class IV & V - no.(%)

113 (88.3 %)

eMajor comorbidities – yes (%)

95 (74.2 %)

How long diabetic – mode (range) in years)

10–20 (0– < 30)

Time to first medical attention – mean (range) in days

7 (1–42)

bStrenuous activity - no.(%)

60 (46.9 %)

Time to admission – mean (range) in days

13 (1–120)

First degree relatives with diabetes – yes (%)

99 (77.3 %)

Lower limb affected – right (%)

69 (53.9 %)

Current smoker (or stopped <6 months) – yes (%)

19 (14.8 %)

Nature of affliction - infection vs gangrene (%)

124 (96.9 %)

Ever smoked (stopped >6 months) – yes (%)

57 (47.5 %)

Part of limb infection started – forefoot (%)

97 (75.8 %)

cCurrent alcohol intake – none (%)/moderate (%)

101 (78.9 %) 26 (20.3 %)

Presence of chronic ulcer – yes (%)

42 (32.8 %)

Previous infections affected limb – yes (%)

45 (37.5 %)

fNon-ulcerative foot deformity – yes (%)

28/86 (32.6 %)

Previous infections either limb – yes (%)

65 (50.8 %)

gOsteomyelitis – yes (%)

19/83 (22.9 %)

Part of foot affected (if trauma) – forefoot (%)

33/41 (80.5 %)

Any distal pulse not palpable – yes (%)

34 (26.6 %)

Implement causing injury (if trauma) (see text)

 

Ankle-brachial index - no. < 0.9 (%)

42 (32.8 %)

Event preceding a chronic ulcer (see text)

 

hPeripheral sensory neuropathy – yes (%)

108 (84.4 %)

Ever instructed in foot care – yes (%)

99 (77.3 %)

iEvent preceding infection/gangrene (see Table 2)

 

Diabetic foot care behaviour – appropriate (%)

81 (63.3 %)

jAmputation – no. (%)

75/124 (60.5 %)

dFoot care by professional – yes (%)

17 (13.3 %)

kMajor amputation – no. (%)

41/124 (33.1 %)

  1. aAccording to the 1990 United Kingdom Registrar General’s social classification [28]
  2. bAny regular physical activity, occupational or recreational, resulting in excessive or abnormal stresses to the feet, such as jogging, prolonged walking (>1 mile) or heavy physical labour
  3. cOnly one patient admitted to heavy alcohol intake
  4. dFoot care professionals include podiatrists, foot nurses and pedicurists
  5. eIncludes hypertension, renal failure, heart disease, etc
  6. fAny non-ulcerative abnormality interfering with the normal contour of the foot, such as bony deformity, arch distortion or callus. Patients with chronic ulcer were not assessed for other contour abnormalities
  7. gPatients who obviously required amputation were not assessed for osteomyelitis
  8. hAs tested by the 10 g monofilament test
  9. iAs determined by research assistants (surgical residents) and verified by the principal investigator. The distribution of this variable is the main focus of this study
  10. jAmputation at any level occurring during index admission or within 6 months of it. In four patient-episodes, patients were lost to follow-up after discharge from hospital
  11. kAmputation proximal to the toes (transmetatarsal, below knee or above knee)
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BMC Surgery

ISSN: 1471-2482

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