Trend and Seasonality of Diabetic Foot Amputation in South Korea: A Population-Based Nationwide Study

Hyung-Jin Chung, Dong-Il Chun, Eun Myeong Kang, Keonwoo Kim, Jinyoung Lee, Ye Jin Jeon, Jaeho Cho, Sungho Won and Young Yi
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Hyung-Jin Chung: Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, 761-1 Sanggye 7-dong, Nowon-gu, Seoul 01757, Korea
Dong-Il Chun: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04401, Korea
Eun Myeong Kang: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Soonchunhyang University Seoul Hospital, 59 Daesagwan-ro, Yongsan-gu, Seoul 04401, Korea
Keonwoo Kim: Department of Health Administration, Sejong Public Health Center, 32 Daecheop-ro, Jochiwon-eup, Sejong 30029, Korea
Jinyoung Lee: Department of Statistics, Chung-Ang University, 102 Heukseok-ro, Dongjak-gu, Seoul 06973, Korea
Ye Jin Jeon: RexSoft Corps, Seoul National University Research Park, 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
Jaeho Cho: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University, 77, Sakju-ro, Chuncheon 24253, Korea
Sungho Won: RexSoft Corps, Seoul National University Research Park, 1, Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 08826, Korea
Young Yi: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Seoul Foot and Ankle Center, Inje University Seoul Paik Hospital, 85, 2-ga, Jeo-dong, Jung-gu, Seoul 04551, Korea

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 7, 1-11

Abstract: The number of lower extremity amputations in diabetic foot patients in Korea is increasing annually. In this nationwide population-based retrospective study, we investigated the data of 420,096 diabetes mellitus patients aged ≥18 years using the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claim database. We aimed to study the seasonal and monthly trends in diabetic foot amputations in Korea. After applying the inclusion criteria, 8156 amputation cases were included. The analysis showed an increasing trend in monthly amputation cases. In terms of seasonality, the monthly frequency of amputation was commonly observed to be lower in February and September every year. Diabetic foot amputations frequently occurred in March, July, and November. There was no difference between the amputation frequency and mean temperature/humidity. This study is meaningful as it is the first nationwide study in Korea to analyze the seasonal and monthly trends in diabetic foot amputation in relation to climatic factors. In conclusion, we recognize an increased frequency of amputation in March, July, and November and recommend intensive educational program on foot care for all diabetes patients and their caregivers. This could improve wound management and amputation prevention guidelines for diabetic foot patients in the Far East with information on dealing with various seasonal changes.

Keywords: diabetic foot; diabetic peripheral neuritis; environmental variation; amputation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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