Anemia in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcer: Effects on Diabetic Microvascular Complications and Related Conditions

Abstract

Objective: We aimed to investigate the etiology and prevalence of anemia in patients with diabetic foot ulcers and the relationship between both microvascular complications and related conditions and anemia. Methods: We retrospectively collected and evaluated the data of 225 patients with diabetic foot ulcer followed at our clinic. The demographic characteristics of the patients were analyzed. Complete blood count for those with anemia, serum iron, iron-binding capacity, ferritin, transferrin saturation index, vitamin B12, folic acid and thin blood film were performed. The diabetic microvascular complications and related conditions such as osteomyelitis, peripheral artery disease, and amputations were also determined. IBM SPSS Statistics Version 20.0 package software was used for the statistical analysis of the data. Results: Of 225 patients were 67 (29%) female and 158 (70.2%) male. The mean age of the patients was 62 ± 10.5 years (30-87). Duration of diabetes was 16.2 ± 6.7 years (2-31). Of the 225 patients, 41 had hypertension, 14 had chronic kidney failure, and 34 had coronary artery disease. Anemia was found in 192 (85.3%) of the 225 patients. Of 192, 126 (56%) had iron deficiency anemia, 50 had folate- deficiency anemia, and the remaining 16 had anemia of chronic disease. Iron deficiency anemia was significantly found to be higher in women. There was no significant difference between patients with and without anemia in terms of diabetic microvascular complications (neuropathy, retinopathy, nephropathy) and the related conditions. Conclusion: We have found that the most common cause of anemia was iron deficiency anemia. However, in our study, the prevalences of microvascular complications did not vary between patients with and without anemia. On the other hand, since all of our patients are having DFU and the high rates of microvascular complications and correlation with the presence of anemia could not be clearly portrayed.

Diabetic Wound-Healing Science

“…In recent studies, anemia has been demonstrated to be prevalent in patients with DM, especially in the setting of DFUs [ 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. However, there are conflicting reports on the correlation between anemia and DFU prognosis.…”

Association of axial length with retinal thickness and choroidal thickness in diabetic patients

“…The estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) (in mL/min/1.73 m 2 ) was calculated according to the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation. 17 The microalbuminuria level (in mg/dL) was assessed using a 50 mL midstream urine sample.…”

Inhibiting the cytosolic function of CXXC5 accelerates diabetic wound healing by enhancing angiogenesis and skin repair

“…Diabetic nonhealing skin ulcers, especially diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), are one of the most serious complications associated with DM. In recent decades, studies of the pathophysiology of DFUs have demonstrated that impaired angiogenesis plays a pivotal role in the development of DFUs by delaying wound healing [3][4][5] . Angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels, occurs as early as Day 3 after wounding.…”