Anemia in patients with diabetic foot ulcer and its impact on disease outcome among Nigerians: Results from the MEDFUN study

BACKGROUND: Diabetes is a life-long and debilitating disease that is fraught with both acute and chronic complications. Of particular concern to sufferers of the disease is the development of foot problems. These problems range from foot deformities to slowly healing or non-healing ulcers (that may necessitate amputation) and in the worst-case scenario, to death. Identification and prompt treatment of comorbid conditions, such as anemia may improve outcome in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). We determined the prevalence of anemia in Nigerians with DFU and its impact on disease outcome. METHODS: We prospectively followed 336 patients with diabetes hospitalized for DFU and managed by a multidisciplinary team until discharge or death. Demographic and diabetes-related information and ulcer characteristics were documented. We evaluated each patient for neuropathy, vasculopathy and medical co-morbidities. Relevant laboratory and imaging studies were performed. We present the results of the sub-group analysis of patients with anemia to determine its prevalence and impact on disease outcome in patients with DFU in the MEDFUN study. RESULTS: Anemia was detected in 180(53.6%) subjects with 88(48.9%) of them requiring blood transfusion. Significant demographic and clinical determinants of anemia were ulcer duration more than one month prior to hospitalization (p<0.009), PAD (p<0.001) and presence of gangrene (p<0.001). The comorbid conditions that were significantly associated with anemia included proteinuria (p<0.003), osteomyelitis (p<0.006), moderate (p<0.002) as well as severe (p<0.001) vascular stenosis, history of stroke (p<0.014) and renal impairment (p<0.002). Anemia was significantly associated with poor wound healing (p<0.009), amputation (p<0.036) and risk of death (p<0.034). CONCLUSION: We detected anemia in more than half of our cohort with DFU. We found significant association between anemia and poor wound healing, amputation and mortality among our studied subjects. Future studies should explore whether prompt correction of anemia in subjects hospitalized for DFU would improve outcome.