Incidence of lower limb amputations in individuals with and without diabetes mellitus in Andalusia (Spain) from 1998 to 2006

Abstract

Aims: We studied the changes in the incidence of lower limb amputation (LLA) in Andalusia from 1998 to 2006 in the population with and without diabetes.

Methods: We undertook a retrospective study of all LLA performed in Andalusia in people aged 30 years old, with or without diabetes, between 1 January 1998 and 31 December 2006. We obtained the crude and standardized incidence rates by year, and sex for three periods: 1998-2000, 2001-2003 and 2004-2006 and calculated the RR of requiring LLA in patients with diabetes. To test for time trend, Poisson regression models were fitted.

Results: A total of 16,210 LLA were carried out in Andalusia, 72.6% in patients with diabetes mellitus and 66.4% in men. In the population with diabetes the standardized incidence of all LLA was found to be 344.0 per 100,000 (95% CI, 315.4-372.4) in 2004-2006. There was an estimated incidence increase for all LLA by 14% and for minor LLA by 13.6% in 2004-2006. In people with diabetes the RR increased by 31.6% as compared to the first period.

Conclusions: Despite the implementation of a care plan for patients with diabetes, the incidence of LLA has not fallen in Andalusia in recent years.