Incidence of acute Charcot foot in patients with diabetes

INTRODUCTION: Acute Charcot foot is a rare but serious complication of diabetes mellitus. With improved diabetes treatment, the annual incidence of acute Charcot foot may have decreased. This study aimed to investigate the annual incidence and incidence rate of acute Charcot foot in patients with an ICD diagnosis code of diabetes in Denmark from 2000 to 2021. Furthermore, the analyses included differences between the five Danish regions. Finally, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the nurses' strike in the summer of 2021 in Denmark was also examined.

METHODS: This was a register-based study conducted in Denmark from 2000 to 2021. Nation-wide and regional, annual incidence and incidence rates of acute Charcot foot were calculated. Kendall's tau was used to test changes in incidence rates.

RESULTS: A significant increase was found in the annual incidence of acute Charcot foot with a correlation of 0.6 (p less-than 0.0005) together with a decline in the annual incidence rate of acute Charcot foot (correlation of -0.6 with p = 0.0005). No differences were observed between theDanish regions. No change in acute Charcot foot incidence rate among diabetes patients was found during 2018-2021 (correlation of 0.3; p = 0.5).

CONCLUSION: The annual incidence increased, whereas the annual incidence rate of acute Charcot foot in patients with an ICD diagnosis code of diabetes in Denmark declined during 2000-2021, with no significant regional differences or change during the COVID-19 and nurses' strike.

FUNDING: None.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: Not relevant.