6533b82afe1ef96bd128c484

RESEARCH PRODUCT

Impact of the COVID‐19 Epidemic on hospitalization for diabetic foot ulcers during lockdown: A French nationwide population‐based study

Benjamin BouilletBruno VergèsJean-michel PetitAnne Sophie MarietEric BenzenineCatherine Quantin

subject

Malemedicine.medical_specialtyEndocrinology Diabetes and Metabolismmedicine.medical_treatment030209 endocrinology & metabolismRevascularizationHistory 21st CenturyAmputation SurgicalCohort Studies03 medical and health sciences0302 clinical medicineEndocrinologyInternal medicineInternal MedicineHumansMedicine030212 general & internal medicineEpidemicsAgedRetrospective StudiesFoot osteomyelitisAged 80 and overSARS-CoV-2business.industryOsteomyelitisCOVID-19Retrospective cohort studyMiddle Agedmedicine.diseaseDiabetic footDiabetic FootHospitalizationDiabetic foot ulcerLower ExtremityAmputationCommunicable Disease ControlQuarantineFemaleFrancebusinessCohort study

description

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic on the hospitalization rates for diabetic foot ulcer (DFU), osteomyelitis and lower limb revascularization procedure in people with DFU. METHODS: This nationwide retrospective cohort study included hospital data on all people hospitalized in France for diabetes in weeks 2-43 in 2020, including the COVID-19 lockdown period, compared to same period in 2019. RESULTS: The number of hospitalizations for DFU decreased significantly in weeks 12-19 (during the lockdown) (p < 10-4 ). Hospitalization for foot osteomyelitis also decreased significantly in weeks 12-19 (p < 10-4 ). The trend was the same for lower limb amputations and revascularizations associated with DFU or amputation. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The marked drop in hospitalization rates for DFU, osteomyelitis and lower limb revascularization procedures in people with DFU observed in France during the lockdown period suggests that COVID-19 was a barrier to DFU care, and may illustrate the combined deleterious effects of hospital overload and changes in health-related behaviour.

yearjournalcountryeditionlanguage
2021-03-16Diabetic Medicine
https://doi.org/10.1111/dme.14577