Comment on Hoffstad et al. Diabetes, Lower-Extremity Amputation, and Death. Diabetes Care 2015;38:1852-1857

We have read with interest the article by Hoffstad et al. (1), as lower-extremity amputation (LEA) is a topic in which we have had a long-standing interest (2,3). Thus, we would like to share some of our thoughts about its findings. This article focuses its attention on the large increase in the incidence of death among patients with diabetes who underwent a LEA, as has been previously reported by several authors, including ourselves (1,3). This article further highlights the incomplete relationship between mortality and known diabetic complications, such as cardiovascular disease or renal insufficiency, and suggests that the presence of other unspecified factor(s) may be …