Micro‐ and macrovascular complications and risk factors for foot ulceration and amputation in individuals receiving dialysis with and without diabetes

Abstract Introduction This study examined the prevalence of microvascular and macrovascular complications in people receiving dialysis with and without diabetes and investigated independent risk factors for foot ulcers and lower‐extremity amputations. Methods We performed a cross‐sectional study of 119 individuals with diabetes and 219 individuals without diabetes receiving chronic dialysis during June 2019 at the Department of Nephrology, Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Denmark. Effects of diabetes and other risk factors were assessed by log‐binomial regression. Prevalence data were compared with a historical control group of 38 individuals with diabetes receiving dialysis examined in 2004 in the same department. Results We found that persons with diabetes had a twofold higher risk ratio of current (unadjusted risk ratio 2.2 [95% CI 1.1, 4.7]) and previous foot ulcer (2.5 [1.7, 3.7]) and a fourfold higher risk ratio of lower‐extremity amputation (4.2 [2.1, 8.6]) in comparison with persons without diabetes (all p