Outcome predictors for wound healing in patients with a diabetic foot ulcer

The aim of this study was to identify diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) patients at risk for the development of a hard-to-heal wound. This is a post-hoc analysis of a prospective cohort study including a total of 208 patients with a DFU. The primary endpoints were time to healing and the development of a hard-to-heal-wound. Univariable and multivariable logistic and Cox regression analysis were used to study the associations of patient characteristics with the primary endpoints. The number of previous DFUs [odds ratio (OR): 1.42, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.99, P = .04], University of Texas (UT) classification grade 2 (OR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.27-6.72, P = .01), UT classification grade 3 (OR: 2.80, 95% CI: 1.17-6.71, P = .02), and a diagnosis of foot stand deformation (OR: 1.54, 95% CI: 0.77-3.08, P = .05) were significantly associated with the development of a hard-to-heal wound. Only UT classification grade 3 (HR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.41-0.90, P = .01) was associated with time to healing. The number of previous DFUs, UT classification grade, and a diagnosis of foot deformation are significantly associated with development of a hard-to-heal wound in patients with a DFU. The only predictor significantly associated with time to healing was UT classification grade 3. These patient characteristics can be used to identify patients at risk for the development of hard-to-heal wounds, who might need an early intervention to prevent wound problems.