Wound healing and healing process in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: A survival analysis study

Graça Pereira, M.; Vilaça, Margarida; Pedras, Susana; Carvalho, André; Vedhara, Kavita; Jesus Dantas, M.; Machado, Luis

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to identify demographic, clinical, and psychological contributors to DFU healing and favorable healing process. Methods: Patients with a chronic DFU were evaluated at baseline (T0; n = 153), two months later (T1; n = 108), and six months later (T2; n = 71). Patients were evaluated on health literacy, perceived stress, anxiety, depression, and illness perceptions. Cox proportional hazard models were built to analyze the predictors of DFU healing and favorable healing process (wound area reduction), including the assessment of time to achieve those outcomes. Results: More than half of patients had their DFU healed (56.1%) or showed a favorable healing process (83.6%). Median time for healing was 112 days, while for favorable process was 30 days. Illness perceptions were the only predictor of wound healing. Being female, with adequate health literacy, and a first DFU predicted a favorable healing process. Conclusions: This is the first study showing that beliefs about DFU are significant predictors of DFU healing, and that health literacy is a significant predictor of a favorable healing process. Brief, comprehensive interventions should be implemented, at the treatment initial stage, in order to change misperceptions and to promote DFU literacy and better health outcomes.

Citation

Graça Pereira, M., Vilaça, M., Pedras, S., Carvalho, A., Vedhara, K., Jesus Dantas, M., & Machado, L. (2023). Wound healing and healing process in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: A survival analysis study. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 198, Article 110623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2023.110623

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 8, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Mar 10, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Deposit Date: Apr 3, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 11, 2024
• Journal: Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice
• Print ISSN: 0168-8227
• Electronic ISSN: 1872-8227
• Publisher: Elsevier BV
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 198
• Article Number: 110623
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2023.110623
• Keywords: DFU perceptions, Survival analysis, Health literacy, Diabetic foot ulcer, Favorable healing process, Healing
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/18993159
• Publisher URL: https://www.diabetesresearchclinicalpractice.com/article/S0168-8227(23)00098-0/fulltext
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Wound healing and healing process in patients with diabetic foot ulcers: A survival analysis study; Journal Title: Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2023.110623; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2023 Published by Elsevier B.V.