Diabetic foot ulcers: Epidemiology and the role of multidisciplinary care teams

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common but highly morbid complication of long-standing diabetes, carrying high rates of associated major amputation and mortality. As the global incidence of diabetes has increased, along with the lifespan of the diabetic patient, the worldwide burden of DFUs has grown steadily. Outcomes in diabetes and DFUs are known to depend strongly on social determinants of health, with worse outcomes noted in minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Effective treatment of DFUs is complex, requiring considerable expenditure of resources and significant cost to the health care system. Comprehensive care models with multidisciplinary teams have proven effective in the treatment of DFUs by decreasing barriers to care and increasing access to the multiple specialists required to provide timely and effective DFU procedural intervention, surveillance, and preventative care. Vascular surgeons are an integral part throughout the cycle of care for DFUs and should be involved early in the course of such patients to maximize their contributions to a multidisciplinary care model. (c) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are a common and serious complication of diabetes, with complex treatment and high costs. Social determinants of health play a significant role in outcomes for diabetes and foot ulcers, with worse outcomes seen in minority and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations. Multidisciplinary team care models have been effective in reducing care barriers and improving treatment outcomes.