Mortality Rates High After Major Diabetes-Related Lower-Limb Amputations
A study published online in Diabetes Care on April 5th, 2018 determined that diabetes patients undergoing lower-limb amputations have a high risk of postoperative mortality.
The study used a cohort of over 300,000 patients diagnosed with diabetes between 2005 and 2014.
Researchers from the University of Otago in Wellington, New Zealand found that 6,352 amputations occurred over the period of the study, which included 2,570 major amputations and 3,782 minor amputations.
Analyzing the outcomes of those who had a major amputation, researchers found that 11% died within 30 days, and 18% died within 90 days. Postoperative death occurred more frequently in older patients who underwent a major amputation.
