Long-term mortality rates after lower extremity amputation in individuals with and without diabetes mellitus (DUDE-10): A retrospective matched cohort study

Background/objectives: To determine mortality rates after lower extremity amputation (LEA) in individuals with and without diabetes mellitus (DM). Methods: Retrospective, observational study using data from a database covering >99 % of the Dutch population. LEAs in 2016 were identified, and mortality data from 2016 to 2021 were analyzed. Study group 1 (SG1) included individuals with DM and LEA (DM+/LEA+) with two control groups (CG), DM+/LEA- (matched by age, sex, without (1a) and with (1b) socioeconomic status matching). Study group 2 (SG2) (DM+/LEA+) was composed after matching with non-DM individuals with LEA (DM-/LEA+ (2a)). Results: Among 5145 individuals with LEA in 2016, 56 % had DM. Five-year mortality was 61.2 % in SG1 (DM+/ LEA+) and 27.9 % in CG1a (DM+, LEA-) and 1b. Study group 2 (DM+/LEA+) had a 62.6 % five-year mortality rate, compared to 56.4 % in CG2a (DM-/LEA+). Conclusions: Mortality after LEA is high, especially in DM; socioeconomic status (SES) does not significantly impact mortality.