Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41079180›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in endocrinology2025

Diagnostic value and integrated threshold of ESR for diabetic foot osteomyelitis: a systemic review and meta-analysis.

Lulu Liu, Yukun Tao, Da Zhang, Jinzheng Hou, Guangxin Zhou, Maolin Tian

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in endocrinology, 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. Review
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

6 authors.

Lulu Liu *Department of Endocrinology, Air Force Medical Center, Air Force Medical University, Beijing, China.
Yukun Tao *Department of Endocrinology, Air Force Medical Center, Air Force Medical University, Beijing, China.
Da ZhangDepartment of Endocrinology, Air Force Medical Center, Air Force Medical University, Beijing, China.
Jinzheng HouDepartment of Endocrinology, Air Force Medical Center, Air Force Medical University, Beijing, China.
Guangxin ZhouDepartment of Endocrinology, Air Force Medical Center, Air Force Medical University, Beijing, China.
Maolin TianDepartment of Endocrinology, Air Force Medical Center, Air Force Medical University, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO) is a severe complication of diabetic foot infections (DFI). Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for improving patient outcomes. The erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), a commonly used inflammatory marker, has been controversial regarding its diagnostic value and optimal cutoff values in DFO. Objective: This study aims to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis to comprehensively evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of ESR for DFO and to determine an optimal pooled cutoff value for the marker. Methods: A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, OVID, and the Wanfang database was conducted for literature related to ESR in the diagnosis of DFO, with the search period extending through March 2025. The Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool was applied for quality evaluation of the included studies. Statistical analyses were performed using Stata 18.0 to generate hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) curves and forest plots for assessing the diagnostic performance of ESR in DFO. To determine the optimal composite cutoff value of ESR for diagnosing DFO, a different random intercepts and common random slope (DICS) model was implemented using R4.5.0. Subsequently, a Generalized Linear Mixed Model (GLMM) was constructed to predict the corresponding sensitivity and specificity at the ESR threshold of 70 mm/h. Results: Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, 12 studies with a total of 1,674 subjects were included. The HSROC model revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) for ESR in diagnosing DFO was 0.71, with sensitivity and specificity values of 0.76 and 0.73, respectively. The DICS model identified an optimal pooled cutoff value for ESR at 51.6 mm/h, with corresponding sensitivity and specificity values of 0.80 and 0.67, respectively. Using the GLM model, an ESR cutoff of 70 mm/h yielded sensitivity and specificity of 0.61 and 0.83, respectively. Conclusion: ESR demonstrates moderate diagnostic efficacy in the identification of DFO. Based on our findings, we recommend the optimal pooled cutoff value for ESR is 51.6 mm/h, as a preliminary screening tool in the diagnostic workup of DFO.

Indexed as

Blood SedimentationDiabetic FootOsteomyelitisBiomarkersHumansROC CurveBiomarkersdiabetic foot osteomyelitisdiagnostic accuracydiagnostic cutofferythrocyte sedimentation ratehierarchical summary ROC curveinflammatory biomarkersmeta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID41079180
PMCPMC12507639

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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.