Accuracy of a foot temperature monitoring mat for predicting diabetic foot ulcers in patients with recent wounds or partial foot amputation

Abstract

To assess the accuracy of once-daily foot temperature monitoring for predicting foot ulceration in diabetic patients with recent wounds and partial foot amputation, complications previously perceived as challenging. Methods: We completed a planned analysis of existing data from a recent study in 129 participants with a previously-healed diabetic foot ulcer. We considered four cohorts: all participants, participants with partial foot amputation, participants with a recent wound, and participants without partial foot amputation and without a recent wound. We reported the prediction specificity, lead time, and annualized alert frequency in each cohort at maximum sensitivity. We assessed the two potentially challenging cohorts for non-inferior accuracy relative to the control cohort using Delong's method. Results: We report non-inferior predictive accuracy in each of the two potentiallychallenging cohorts relative to the control cohort (⍺ < 0.05). The alert lead time was similar across these cohorts, ranging from 33 to 42 days. Conclusions: Once-daily foot temperature monitoring is no less accurate for predicting foot ulceration in those with recent wounds and partial foot amputations than in those without these complications. These results support expanded practice of once-daily foot temperature monitoring, which may result in improved patient outcomes and reduced healthcare resource utilization.

Lower resource utilization for patients with healed diabetic foot ulcers during participation in a prevention program with foot temperature monitoring

“…Accuracy of this approach using the study device previously has been reported to predict 97% of non-acute plantar DFU in patients in diabetic foot remission, 21 and a recent study found no difference in accuracy for those with partial foot amputations. 22 The mat form factor of the study device accommodates patients with foot deformity and partial-foot amputations.…”

COVID‐19: A catalyst for change in virtual health care utilization for persons with limb loss

“…16 Various studies have looked at a temperature monitoring mat that can be kept at a patient's home. [16][17][18] Frykberg et al studied 129 patients who used the mat and found high adherence, with 86% of individuals measuring their plantar temperature an average of three times a week, and 88% stating the mat was easy to use. Additionally, researchers found that 97% of all DFUs were found with the thermography mat, and on average they were detected 37 weeks before they were detected in person, in the clinic.…”

A care team-based classification and population management schema for connected diabetes care

“…Physical examinations of feet and eyes are still necessary in-person today, though there are already a number of commercialized technologies to monitor for foot ulcers (e.g., Podimetrics 12 ), and researchers aspire to develop reliable retinopathy assessments from non-mydriatic smartphone camera images in the not-too-distant future 13 . Even with these developments, most people with diabetes will benefit from occasional in-person visits in addition to participation in a virtual clinic.…”