Reduced Incidence of Foot-Related Hospitalisation and Amputation amongst Persons with Diabetes in Queensland, Australia.

Objective: To determine trends in the incidence of foot-related hospitalisation and amputation amongst persons with diabetes in Queensland (Australia) between 2005 and 2010 that coincided with changes in state-wide ambulatory diabetic foot-related complication management.

Methods: All data from cases admitted for the principal reason of diabetes foot-related hospitalisation or amputation in Queensland from 2005-2010 were obtained from the Queensland Hospital Admitted Patient Data Collection dataset. Incidence rates for foot-related hospitalisation (admissions, bed days used) and amputation (total, minor, major) cases amongst persons with diabetes were calculated per 1,000 person-years with diabetes (diabetes population) and per 100,000 person-years (general population).

What are the key conditions associated with lower limb amputations in a major Australian teaching hospital?

Background: Lower extremity amputation results in significant global morbidity and mortality. Australia appears to have a paucity of studies investigating lower extremity amputation. The primary aim of this retrospective study was to investigate key conditions associated with lower extremity amputations in an Australian population.

Diabetes-related major lower limb amputation in Far North Queensland, 1998-2008.

Objective: To report on the accuracy of reports of diabetes-related major amputations, rates per 100000 people and trends over the 10-year period from 1998-99 to 2007-08 in Far North Queensland.

Methods: Three data sources were cross-checked. Poisson regression was used to calculate the percentage change in trends in diabetes amputation hospitalisations over the period.

Standardising practices improves clinical diabetic foot management: the Queensland Diabetic Foot Innovation Project, 2006-09.

Objective: The aim of this paper is to report the clinical practice changes resulting from strategies to standardise diabetic foot clinical management in three diverse ambulatory service sites in Queensland, Australia.

Methods: Multifaceted strategies were implemented in 2008, including: multidisciplinary teams, clinical pathways, clinical training, clinical indicators, and telehealth support. Prior to the intervention, none of the aforementioned strategies were used, except one site had a basic multidisciplinary team.