Health-Related Quality of Life Predicts Major Amputation and Death, but Not Healing, in People With Diabetes Presenting With Foot Ulcers: The Eurodiale Study

TY - JOUR

T1 - Health-Related Quality of Life Predicts Major Amputation and Death, but Not Healing, in People With Diabetes Presenting With Foot Ulcers

T2 - The Eurodiale Study

AU - Siersma, V.

AU - Thorsen, H.

AU - Holstein, P.E.

AU - Kars, M.

AU - Apelqvist, J.

AU - Jude, E.B.

AU - Piaggesi, A.

AU - Bakker, K.

AU - Edmonds, M.

AU - Jirkovska, A.

AU - Mauricio, D.

AU - Ragnarson Tennvall, G.

AU - Reike, H.

AU - Spraul, M.

AU - Uccioli, L.

AU - Urbancic, V.

AU - Acker, Kv.

AU - Baal, Kv.

AU - Schaper, N.C.

PY - 2014/3

Y1 - 2014/3

N2 - OBJECTIVE Low health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been consistently reported to be associated with poor prognosis for a variety of health outcomes in various settings. We aimed to evaluate whether HRQoL in patients presenting with new diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) has prognostic significance for ulcer healing, major amputation, and death. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We followed 1,088 patients with new DFUs presenting for treatment at one of the 14 centers in 10 European countries participating in the Eurodiale (European Study Group on Diabetes and the Lower Extremity) study, prospectively until healing (76.9%), major amputation (4.6%), or death (6.4%) up to a maximum of 1 year. At baseline, patient and ulcer characteristics were recorded as well as EQ-5D, a standardized instrument consisting of five domains and a visual analog scale for use as a measure of HRQoL. The prognostic influence of the EQ-5D domains was evaluated in multivariable Cox regression analyses on the time-to-event data, adjusting for baseline clinical characteristics of the ulcer and comorbidities. RESULTS While predictive effects of HRQoL, adjusted for possible confounders,were absent for healing, decreased HRQoL, especially in the physical domains, was statistically significant for major amputation (mobility, self-care, usual activities) and death (self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort). CONCLUSIONS Low HRQoL appears to be predictive for major amputation and death, but high HRQoL does not increase healing. Future studies into the influence of HRQoL on ulcer outcome are important in attempts to decrease treatment failure and mortality.

AB - OBJECTIVE Low health-related quality of life (HRQoL) has been consistently reported to be associated with poor prognosis for a variety of health outcomes in various settings. We aimed to evaluate whether HRQoL in patients presenting with new diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) has prognostic significance for ulcer healing, major amputation, and death. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS We followed 1,088 patients with new DFUs presenting for treatment at one of the 14 centers in 10 European countries participating in the Eurodiale (European Study Group on Diabetes and the Lower Extremity) study, prospectively until healing (76.9%), major amputation (4.6%), or death (6.4%) up to a maximum of 1 year. At baseline, patient and ulcer characteristics were recorded as well as EQ-5D, a standardized instrument consisting of five domains and a visual analog scale for use as a measure of HRQoL. The prognostic influence of the EQ-5D domains was evaluated in multivariable Cox regression analyses on the time-to-event data, adjusting for baseline clinical characteristics of the ulcer and comorbidities. RESULTS While predictive effects of HRQoL, adjusted for possible confounders,were absent for healing, decreased HRQoL, especially in the physical domains, was statistically significant for major amputation (mobility, self-care, usual activities) and death (self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort). CONCLUSIONS Low HRQoL appears to be predictive for major amputation and death, but high HRQoL does not increase healing. Future studies into the influence of HRQoL on ulcer outcome are important in attempts to decrease treatment failure and mortality.

KW - diabetes

KW - Diabetes Mellitus

KW - Quality of Life

KW - semrap-2014-1

KW - time

U2 - 10.2337/dc13-1212

DO - 10.2337/dc13-1212

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 24170755

SN - 0149-5992

VL - 37

SP - 694

EP - 700

JO - Diabetes Care

JF - Diabetes Care

IS - 3

ER -