José Antonio Rubio

Reducing Major Lower Extremity Amputations After the Introduction of a Multidisciplinary Team for the Diabetic Foot

We analyzed the incidence of lower extremity amputations (LEAs) in the 3rd Health Care Area of Madrid before and after the March 2008 introduction of a multidisciplinary team for managing diabetic foot disease. We compared the amputation rates in people with and without diabetes during 2 periods: before (2001-2007) and after (2008-2011) the introduction of a Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Unit (MDFU). We also analyzed the trend of the amputation rates by joinpoint regression analysis and measured the annual percentage change (APC). During the study period, 514 nontraumatic LEAs were performed, 374 (73%) in people with diabetes and 140 (27%) in people without the disease. The incidence of LEAs showed a significant reduction in major amputations in people with diabetes, from 6.1 per 100 000 per year (95% confidence interval [CI] = 4.9 to 7.2), in the 2001 to 2007 period, to 4.0 per 100 000 per year (95% CI = 2.6 to 5.5) in the 2008 to 2011 period (P = .020). There were no changes in incidence of minor or total amputations in the diabetic population or in amputations in the nondiabetic population during the study period. Joinpoint regression analysis showed a significant reduction in the incidence of major LEAs in diabetic population with an APC of −6.6% (95% CI = −10.2 to −2.8; P = .003), but there were no other significant changes. This study demonstrates that the introduction of a multidisciplinary team, coordinated by an endocrinologist and a podiatrist, for managing diabetic foot disease is associated with a reduction in the incidence of major amputations in patients with diabetes.

Unidades de pie diabético en España: conociendo la realidad mediante el uso de un cuestionario

OBJECTIVE To ascertain the number of diabetic foot units (DFUs) in Spain, the specialists working in them, and the population covered by them. MATERIAL AND METHODS The Spanish Group on the Diabetic Foot (SGDF) prepared and agreed a questionnaire based on the recommendations of the 2011 International Consensus on the Diabetic Foot (ICDF). From October to December 2012, the questionnaire was sent to members of three scientific societies formed by professionals involved in the care of patients with diabetes mellitus. Population coverage of the responding centers and DFUs was estimated using the 2012 population census. RESULTS Seventy five questionnaires were received, 64 of them from general hospitals, which accounted for 13% of the general hospitals of the National Health System. It was calculated that they provided coverage to 43% of the population. Thirty four centers answered that they had a DFU. Specialized diabetic foot care was only provided to 25% of the population. The number of different professionals working at diabetic foot units was 6.3±2.7. Classification of DFUs based on their complexity was as follows: 5 basic units (14.7%), 20 intermediate units (58.8%), and 9 excellence units (26.5%). CONCLUSIONS The number of DFUs reported in this study in Spain is low, and allow for foot care of only one out of every four patients with diabetes. Spanish health system needs to improve diabetic foot care by creating new DFUs and improving the existing ones.

Tendencia de la incidencia de amputaciones de miembro inferior tras la implementación de una Unidad Multidisciplinar de Pie Diabético

BACKGROUNDS AND OBJECTIVE Incidence of lower extremity amputations (LEA) in the population with and without diabetes mellitus (DM) was assessed after implementation of a Multidisciplinary Diabetic Foot Unit (MDFU) during 2008. MATERIAL AND METHODS Non-traumatic LEA were analyzed, and those performed before (2001-2007) and after (2008-2014) introduction of the MDFU were compared. LEA were grouped by age and sex. Their incidence was expressed as a rate per 100,000 population per year, adjusted to the standard European population. RESULTS A total of 664 LEA were performed during the 2001-2014 period, 486 (73%) of them in patients with DM. Total LEA incidence was 11.2/105 population in DM versus 3.9/105 in the population without DM. Incidence of major LEA in patients with DM significantly decreased from 6.1/105 population in the 2001-2007 period to 4.5/105 in the 2008-2014 period (p=.03). Joinpoint regression analysis also showed a reduction in the trend of incidence of major LEA in patients with DM, with an annual percentage change of -3.3% [95% CI, -6.2-0.3] (p=.025). No significant differences were found for all other incidences and trends in the diabetic and non-diabetic populations. CONCLUSIONS Implementation of a MDFU has been shown to be associated with a significant reduction in major amputation rate in the diabetic population, although the results are not optimal yet. Both results and work at the MDFU should be improved.

Peripheral insulin resistance in ILK-depleted mice by reduction of GLUT4 expression

The development of insulin resistance is characterized by the impairment of glucose uptake mediated by glucose transporter 4 (GLUT4). Extracellular matrix changes are induced when the metabolic dysregulation is sustained. The present work was devoted to analyze the possible link between the extracellular-to-intracellular mediator integrin-linked kinase (ILK) and the peripheral tissue modification that leads to glucose homeostasis impairment. Mice with general depletion of ILK in adulthood (cKD-ILK) maintained in a chow diet exhibited increased glycemia and insulinemia concurrently with a reduction of the expression and membrane presence of GLUT4 in the insulin-sensitive peripheral tissues compared with their wild-type littermates (WT). Tolerance tests and insulin sensitivity indexes confirmed the insulin resistance in cKD-ILK, suggesting a similar stage to prediabetes in humans. Under randomly fed conditions, no differences between cKD-ILK and WT were observed in the expression of insulin receptor (IR-B) and its substrate IRS-1 expressions. The IR-B isoform phosphorylated at tyrosines 1150/1151 was increased, but the AKT phosphorylation in serine 473 was reduced in cKD-ILK tissues. Similarly, ILK-blocked myotubes reduced their GLUT4 promoter activity and GLUT4 expression levels. On the other hand, the glucose uptake capacity in response to exogenous insulin was impaired when ILK was blocked in vivo and in vitro, although IR/IRS/AKT phosphorylation states were increased but not different between groups. We conclude that ILK depletion modifies the transcription of GLUT4, which results in reduced peripheral insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake, suggesting ILK as a molecular target and a prognostic biomarker of insulin resistance.

Asistencia sanitaria de la mujer gestante con diabetes en España: aproximación usando un cuestionario

OBJECTIVE To ascertain how health care for pregnant women with gestational diabetes (GD) and pregestational diabetes (PGD) is organized, and to estimate the number of Pregnancy and Diabetes Units (PDUs) in Spain in 2013. MATERIAL AND METHODS The Spanish Group of Diabetes and Pregnancy (GEDE) developed and agreed on a questionnaire based on the recommendations of the group. The questionnaire was sent to members of the Spanish Society of Diabetes and the Spanish Society of Endocrinology and Nutrition. RESULTS Eighty-seven questionnaires were received from 81 hospitals, 4 outpatient specialty centers, and 2 primary healthcare centers, which accounted for 51% of the Spanish population and for 39% of births in 2013. GD was mainly diagnosed based on GEDE recommendations (98%), and less than 50% of women were reevaluated after delivery in primary care. Fourteen (26%) of the 53 centers identified as PDUs corresponded to a minimal model. Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) therapy was not available in 30% of centers, and 13% of hospitals had no preconceptional clinics. No nurse support was available in 20% of centers. CONCLUSIONS Care of women with PGD has a fair coverage with PDU, but significant deficits still exist, for instance, in preconception clinic and CSII. However, organization of care for women with GD appears to be adequate. There are aspects in need of improvement such as integration of diabetes educators and coordination with primary care for postpartum reclassification.

Relación entre el déficit de vitamina D y el síndrome metabólico en población adulta de la Comunidad de Madrid

BACKGROUNDS AND OBJECTIVE Previous studies have suggested an association between MS and vitamin D deficiency, but data are not conclusive. This study was intended to find out if metabolic syndrome, according to the 2009 IDF/AHA/NHLBI, is associated to the presence of vitamin D deficiency. MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on a sample of 326 subjects aged 18 years or older, recruited from a health center in Alcalá de Henares. Participants underwent an interview and a standardized clinical examination. In a second visit, blood tests were performed in 255 subjects to quantify serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 OH-VitD) and different laboratory parameters associated to MS. The association between vitamin D deficiency and metabolic syndrome (and each of its components) was examined. RESULTS In the study population, MS prevalence was 36.1% and prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (25 OH-Vit D<20 ng/mL) was 56.3%. MS was more common in the group of patients with vitamin D deficiency (43.4%) than in the group with no deficiency (26.8%, P=.006), with an estimated prevalence ratio of 1.62 (95% CI: 1.13-2.31). Adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index did not change such association. CONCLUSIONS There is a significant association between vitamin D deficiency and MS. Both conditions are highly prevalent in our population.

Traducción al español, adaptación y validación del Cuestionario de miedo a la hipoglucemia en adultos con diabetes tipo 1 de la Comunidad de Madrid

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The negative impact of hypoglycemia on patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) may lead to development of fear of hypoglycemia. In this study, the original Hypoglycemia Fear Survey (HFS) questionnaire was translated into Spanish, adapted and validated, and variables associated to fear of hypoglycemia in T1DM were analyzed. MATERIAL AND METHODS The HFS was translated and adapted to Spanish using the forward-backward translation method. The resulting questionnaire, EsHFS, was administrated to a population with T1DM. The following parameters of the questionnaire were analyzed: feasibility, reliability (Cronbachs alpha), content validity (correlating EsHFS and EsDQOL [Diabetes Quality of Life] questionnaire), and stability (by means of test-retest correlation). RESULTS The EsHFS questionnaire consists of 24 items and three subscales including: subscale 1 on worry; subscale 2 on hypoglycemia-avoidant behavior, and subscale 3 on hyperglycemia-influenced behavior. STUDY POPULATION 163 subjects, with a mean aged (SD) of 36 (10.5) years, 24% on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion. Of these, 99.8% completed the EsHFS questionnaire in less than 10minutes. Cronbachs alpha for global EsHFS was 0.92. EsHFS and its subscales correlated with EsDQOL. Test-retest correlation (Pearson) was r=0.92. Age, female sex, lower educational level, living alone, frequency of daily self-monitoring and non-severe hypoglycemia, and history of severe and/or asymptomatic hypoglycemia were independently associated to the result of EsHFS. CONCLUSIONS The Spanish version of the HFS, EsHFS, has good psychometric properties and may be a useful tool to assess fear of hypoglycemia in Spanish-speaking patients with T1DM.

Análisis de las reulceraciones en una unidad multidisciplinar de pie diabético tras la implementación de un programa de cuidado integrado del pie

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to assess the risk factors associated to recurrent diabetic foot ulcers after implementing a new preventive comprehensive foot care (CFC) program carried out by a podiatrist and an endocrinologist at a multidisciplinary diabetic foot unit (MDFU) and its potential impact in decreasing recurrent ulcers. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective cohort study including consecutive patients who attended the MDFU for the first time from 2008 to 2014 complaining of a diabetic foot ulcer that finally healed. Patients were monitored until ulcer recurred or up to June 30, 2016. Maximum follow-up time was 8.1 years. Cumulative incidence of recurrent ulcers was analyzed during two periods: 2008-2010 (before CFC was implemented) and 2011-2014 (after implementation of CFC). RESULTS A total of 280 subjects with a median age of 69.5 years (Q25:60,2-Q75:78) were included. Of these, 64.6% were males and 92.1% had type 2 diabetes mellitus. One hundred and twenty-six (45%) suffered recurrent ulcers. Median time to recurrent ulceration was 0.97 (Q25:0.44-Q75:1.74) years. Multivariate analysis showed sensory neuropathy (HR [95% CI] 1.58 [0.99-2.54], P=.050); minor amputation (HR [95% CI] 1.66 [0.12-2, 46], P=.011); and 2011-2014 period versus 2008-10 period (HR [95% CI] 0.60 [0.42-0.87], P=.007) to be factors independently associated to recurrent ulcers. CONCLUSIONS Sensory neuropathy, minor amputation, and implementation of the CFC program were predictors of reulceration. Implementation of the CFC program was associated to a 40% reduction in reulceration. Prevention of recurrent ulcers is feasible and should be a priority in a MDFU.