A Review of the Eurodiale Studies: What Lessons for Diabetic Foot Care?

• Published in: Current diabetes reports Vol. 11; no. 4; pp. 302 - 309
• Main Authors: Akhtar, Simeen, Schaper, Nicolaas, Apelqvist, Jan, Jude, Edward
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Current Science Inc 01.08.2011
• Subjects: Aged; Amputation; Antibiotics; Clinical Medicine; Comorbidity; Cost; Delivery of care; Diabetes; Diabetic Foot - economics; Diabetic Foot - pathology; Diabetic Foot - physiopathology; Diabetic foot care; Endocrinology and Diabetes; Endokrinologi och diabetes; Female; Foot ulcer; Foot Ulcer - economics; Foot Ulcer - pathology; Foot Ulcer - physiopathology; Healing; Health care organization; Humans; Infection; Ischemia; Klinisk medicin; Lower extremity; Male; Medical and Health Sciences; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Multicenter; Neuroischemia; Neuropathy; Off-loading; Osteomyelitis; Outcome; Peripheral arterial disease; Prospective; Prospective Studies; Referral; Resource utilization; Revascularization; Vascular; Neuroischemia; Lower extremity; Neuropathy; Multicenter; Cost; Prospective; Ischemia; Amputation; Diabetic foot care; Revascularization; Resource utilization; Comorbidity; Peripheral arterial disease; Vascular; Delivery of care; Infection; Osteomyelitis; Health care organization; Foot ulcer; Antibiotics; Referral; Outcome; Healing; Diabetes; Off-loading
• ISSN: 1534-4827; 1539-0829; 1539-0829
• DOI: 10.1007/s11892-011-0195-x

The prevalence of diabetes has been increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. Treatment of diabetes-related complications adds a huge financial burden on our health services, made worse in the current financial climate. The Eurodiale (European Study Group on Diabetes and the Lower Extremity) study was a prospective observational study conducted in 14 European centers in 2003 to 2004 and included data on characteristics of diabetic patients with foot ulcers, diagnostic and management procedures, health care organization, quality of life, and resource use. This was the first large multicenter study, included 1232 patients, and used an integrated approach for a multiorgan disease. The study has provided new insights into the intricacies involved in managing diabetic foot ulcers and how care can be improved. It has shown the differences in quality of care provided in different centers and also highlighted the need for more specific guidance related to diabetic foot disease.