Khunkaew et al identified risk factors for a poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for a patient with diabetic foot ulcer. This can help to identify a patient who may benefit from interventions to improve the quality of life. The authors are from the University of Wollongong in Australia.
Patient selection: diabetic with foot ulcer(s)
Subscales of the SF-36 with poor scores:
(1) physical functioning
(2) physical role
(3) general health
(4) vitality
Clinical and laboratory findings:
(1) presence of pain
(2) C-reactive protein > 10 mg/L
(3) area of ulcer > 5 square cm
(4) ankle-to-brachial index < 0.9 (indicates peripheral vascular disease)
(5) high glycosylated hemoglobin (indicating poor diabetic control)
(6) body mass index > 25 kg per square meter
A patient with multiple findings is likely to have a poor health-related quality of life.
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