Original Data
| Rev Diabet Stud,
2017,
14(4):372-380 |
DOI 10.1900/RDS.2017.14.372 |
Duration of Type 2 Diabetes is a Predictor of Elevated Plantar Foot Pressure
Brooke Falzon1, Cynthia Formosa1, Liberato Camilleri2, Alfred Gatt1
1Department of Podiatry, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
2Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Faculty of Science, University of Malta, Msida, MSD 2080, Malta
Address correspondence to: Alfred Gatt, e-mail: alfred.gatt@um.edu.mt
Manuscript submitted September 11, 2017; resubmitted November 23, 2017; accepted January 22, 2018.
Keywords: diabetes, foot, diabetes complication, peak plantar pressure, pressure-time integral, metatarsophalangeal joint, foot posture index, ulceration
Abstract
AIMS: Elevated plantar pressure is considered a significant risk factor for ulceration in diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to determine whether duration of diabetes could affect plantar pressure in patients with no known significant comorbidity or foot pathology. METHODS: Participants with type 2 diabetes, but without known confounding factors that could alter peak pressure, were matched for age, weight, and gender and categorized into 3 groups of diabetes duration: group 1 (1-5 yr), group 2 (6-10 yr), and group 3 (11-15 yr). Plantar pressures were recorded utilizing a two-step protocol at a self-selected speed. RESULTS: One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed significant differences in mean peak plantar pressures between the three groups under the 2nd - 4th metatarsophalangeal joint (MPJ) region of interest (ROI) (p = 0.012 and p = 0.022, respectively) and left heel (p = 0.049). Also, a significant difference in mean pressure-time integral under the left 2nd - 4th MPJ ROI (p = 0.021) and right heel (p = 0.048) was observed. Regression analysis confirmed that mean peak plantar pressures in the first group (but not in the second group) were significantly lower than in the third group (p = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: As the duration of diabetes increased, peak plantar pressure increased significantly under the 2nd - 4th MPJ ROIs. These findings suggest that clinicians should make more use of pressure mapping technology as part of their clinical management plan in patients with diabetes >10 yr, even if they have no complications or deformities, to preserve functional limbs in this high-risk population.
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