Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40108563›Full record

ArticleBMC endocrine disorders2025

Factors influencing the severity of diabetic foot ulcers: a cross-sectional study.

Rickson Bahati, Daniel Kitua, Leonard Selestine, Ally Mwanga, Miriam Urio, Godfrey Mchele, David Antanamsu

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC endocrine disorders, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Rickson BahatiDepartment of Surgery, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. ricksongeofrey@ymail.com.
Daniel KituaDepartment of Surgery, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Leonard SelestineDepartment of Surgery, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Ally MwangaDepartment of Surgery, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences, P.O. Box 65001, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Miriam UrioDepartment of Surgery, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Godfrey McheleDepartment of Surgery, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
David AntanamsuDepartment of Surgery, Muhimbili National Hospital, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundDiabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) are prevalent among individuals with poorly controlled diabetes, and severe cases can result in increased morbidity and a poor quality of life. This study aimed to identify the factors that affect the severity of DFUs, offering insights into potential interventions that could enhance patient outcomes. METHODOLOGY: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2023 to March 2024 at Muhimbili National Hospital in Tanzania, involving 177 consecutively selected patients with DFUs. The primary outcome variable was the severity of DFUs, which was assessed using the Meggitt-Wagner severity score. Both socio-demographic and clinical characteristics were evaluated to determine their association with the outcome variable using multivariate ordinal logistic regression analysis.

resultsThe median age of the study participants was 60 years (IQR = 52-68), with a male-to-female ratio of 2 to 1. Notably, Wagner grades 4 and 5 accounted for 57.6% of the participants. Factors associated with increased severity of DFUs included age over 60 years (aOR = 1.83, 95% CI 1.05-3.23, p = 0.035) and poor adherence to diabetes medications (aOR = 2.62, 95% CI 1.36-5.09, p = 0.004). Conversely, having health insurance coverage was linked to better outcomes (aOR = 0.51, 95% CI 0.27-0.96, p = 0.036).

conclusionThe study highlights factors that can enhance comprehensive care for diabetic patients, especially elderly individuals. Key measures include implementing educational programs to encourage medication adherence, improving healthcare access, particularly for uninsured individuals, promoting insurance coverage, and making diabetes treatments more affordable.

Indexed as

Diabetic FootSeverity of Illness IndexAgedCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFollow-Up StudiesHumansMaleMiddle AgedPrognosisProspective StudiesQuality of LifeRisk FactorsTanzaniaDiabetes mellitusDiabetic foot ulcer (DFU)Foot gangreneMeggitt-Wagner

Identifiers

PMID40108563
PMCPMC11924770

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.