Epidemiology of Diabetic Foot Disease.

Ahn,  Kyu Jeung

doi:2011.12.2.72

J Korean Diabetes > Volume 12(2); 2011 > Article

Focused Issue

The Journal of Korean Diabetes 2011;12(2):72-75.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4093/kcd.2011.12.2.72 Published online June 1, 2011.

당뇨병성 족부질환의 역학

안규정

Epidemiology of Diabetic Foot Disease.

Kyu Jeung Ahn

Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea. ahnkj@khu.ac.kr

Abstract

The global incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing. Patients with diabetes are at increased lifetime risk of developing foot ulcers a major and increasing public health problem associated with morbidities, impairment of quality of life and increased management costs. As > 85% of amputations are preceded by an active foot ulcer in patients with diabetes ulcers and amputation are considered together in this report. We examine the incidence of foot disorders in South Korea using disease-classification codes included on health insurance claim forms and data collected during a 5 year observational study in a university hospital. The annual incidence of diabetic foot disease is 1.0~1.2% in Korea. However, Korean epidemiological studies describing the clinical and surgical characteristics of diabetic foot wounds are lacking. The evaluation and treatment of diabetic foot ulcers should be implemented in prospective cohort studies as soon as possible.

Key Words: Diabetic foot, Amputation