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Fighting Heart Disease Prevents Early Deaths for Patients With Foot ProblemsWhat is the problem and what is known about it so far?
Why did researchers do this particular study?The researchers wanted to find out if paying more attention to controlling the risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease would reduce the number of deaths among people with diabetes-related foot problems. Who was studied?Two groups were included in the study. The first group included patients who received treatment for foot problems in a diabetes foot care clinic between 1995 and 1999. The second group included patients treated for similar problems in the same clinic between 2001 and 2004, after the clinic adopted a new policy for better controlling heart disease risk factors. The new policy involved paying more attention to controlling A1C levels (a measure of oneís blood glucose levels over a few months), blood pressure, and cholesterol levels for all patients. How was the study done?The researchers compared the number of deaths over 5 years in the first and second groups of patients. What did the researchers find?The death rates were 48% in the first group and about 27% in the second group. What are the implications of the study?Controlling the risk factors for heart and blood vessel disease can prevent early death in diabetic patients who have foot complications. FOR MORE INFORMATION |
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