Reevaluating the way we classify the diabetic foot: restructuring the diabetic foot risk classification system of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot.

OBJECTIVE

To separately evaluate peripheral arterial occlusive disease (PAOD) and foot ulcer and amputation history in a diabetic foot risk classification to predict foot complications.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We evaluated 1,666 diabetic patients for 27.2 +/- 4.2 months. Patients underwent a detailed foot assessment and were followed at regular intervals. We used a modified version of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot's (IWGDF's) risk classification to assess complications during the follow-up period.

RESULTS

There were more ulcerations, infections, amputations, and hospitalizations as risk group increased (chi(2) for trend P < 0.001). When risk category 2 (neuropathy and deformity and/or PAOD) was stratified by PAOD, there were more complications in PAOD patients (P < 0.01). When risk group 3 patients (ulceration or amputation history) were separately stratified, there were more complications in subjects with previous amputation (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

We propose a new risk classification that predicts future foot complications better than that currently used by the IWGDF.