Temporal trends in minor and major lower extremity amputation in people with type 2 diabetes: The Fremantle Diabetes Study

Aims: To determine whether incident minor and major lower extremity amputations (LEAs) have declined in recent decades in type 2 diabetes. Methods: Participants with type 2 diabetes from the community-based Fremantle Diabetes Study Phases I (FDS1; n = 1,296, mean age 64.0 years, recruited 1993–1996) and II (FDS2; n = 1,509, mean age 65.4 years, recruited 2008–2011) were followed from entry to incident minor/major LEA, death or five years. Cox regression determined hazard ratios (HRs) for each outcome for FDS2 versus FDS1 and independent predictors of incident minor and major LEA in the combined cohort. Results: Age- and sex-adjusted HRs (95% CIs) in FDS2 versus FDS1 for incident minor and major LEA were, respectively, 0.60 (0.27, 1.35) and 0.59 (0.22, 1.59). Higher glycated haemoglobin, urine albumin: creatinine (uACR) ratio and peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) were independent predictors of incident minor LEA. Higher fasting serum glucose, peripheral arterial disease (PAD), end-stage kidney disease and prior diabetes-related minor LEA were associated with incident major LEA. Conclusions: There were non-significant reductions of approximately 40% in incident minor and major LEA in community-based people with type 2 diabetes during the 15 years between FDS Phases. Predictors of minor/major LEA confirm distinct high-risk patient groups with implications for clinical management.