Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Remote Foot Temperature Monitoring for Prevention of Amputation in a Large Integrated Health Care System

OBJECTIVEWe evaluated the effectiveness of remote foot temperature monitoring (RTM) in the Veterans Affairs health care system. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSWe conducted a retrospective cohort study that included 924 eligible patients enrolled in RTM between 2019 and 2021 who were matched up to 3:1 to 2,757 nonenrolled comparison patients. We used conditional Cox regression to estimate adjusted cause-specific hazard ratios (aHRs) and corresponding 95% CIs for lower-extremity amputation (LEA) as the primary outcome and all-cause hospitalization and death as secondary outcomes. RESULTSRTM was not associated with LEA incidence (aHR 0.92, 95% CI 0.62-1.37) or all-cause hospitalization (aHR 0.97, 95% CI 0.82-1.14) but was inversely associated (reduced risk) with death (aHR 0.63, 95% CI 0.49-0.82). CONCLUSIONSThis study does not provide support that RTM reduces the risk of LEA or all-cause hospitalization in individuals with a history of diabetic foot ulcer. Randomized controlled trials can overcome important limitations.

Automated summary

The effectiveness of remote foot temperature monitoring (RTM) in the Veterans Affairs health care system was evaluated. The study found that RTM was not associated with lower-extremity amputation (LEA) or all-cause hospitalization, but was inversely associated with death.