The Investigation of Demographic Characteristics and the Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients With Diabetic Foot Ulcers at First Presentation

作者：Yao Huang, Xie Ting, Minjie Wu, Cao Yemin, Wang Xiqiao, Jiang Yuzhi, Tian Ming, Weida Wu, Qian Peifen, Shuliang Lu · 发表于：The International Journal of Lower Extremity Wounds · 年份：2012 · DOI：10.1177/1534734612457034 · 被引用次数：30 · 研究领域：Diabetic Foot Ulcer Assessment and Management、Wound Healing and Treatments、Pressure Ulcer Prevention and Management

To investigate the characteristics of diabetic patients with foot ulcers, their health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and the link between them. The study population included 131 consecutive patients presenting in a diabetic foot clinic with a new foot ulcer between December 1, 2011, and May 1, 2012. The authors collected sociodemographic data, foot and ulcer characteristics using the Wagner Grade, and HRQoL (using the SF-36 Scale) information; 54.2% of the patients were in Wagner 2 or Wagner 3 categories. In all the 8 SF-36 subscales and in the SF-36 summary scales, the patients with diabetic foot ulcer had significantly poorer HRQoL than the general population in China (P < .01). Their Wagner Grade had negative correlation with all the SF-36 subscales and the summary scales (P < .05). In conclusion, new diabetic foot ulcers were already in poor condition when patients first visited the diabetic foot clinic. Concomitantly, patients had worse HRQoL compared with the general population. More effective interventions are needed to improve their self-care level and HRQoL.