Temporal trends of selected diabetic foot deformities and risk factors: an exploratory analysis from a tertiary diabetes clinic
Authors' conclusion
The developed models provide clinically actionable risk trajectories, revealing distinct patterns by complication type, LOPS status, and demographic factors.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with diabetes undergoing routine foot examinations at a tertiary diabetes clinic (1998–2024), with complete data14,436 screenings
- Participants
- 3,049 patients
- Exposure
- Loss of Protective Sensation (LOPS) vs no LOPS
- Outcome
- Temporal trends in the prevalence of six diabetes-related foot complications
Methodological detailssingle-centre, tertiary diabetes clinic, generalized estimating equations, exploratory analysis
- Single-centre
- Tertiary diabetes clinic
- Generalized estimating equations
- Exploratory analysis
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Odds of complications with LOPS (adjusted for age at diagnosis, sex, DM type and duration)
- Fat pad atrophy, OR
- 2.12
- Toenail deformity, OR
- 2.44
- Toe deformities, OR
- 2.57
- Callus, OR
- 3.66
- Xerosis, OR
- 2.27
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Prevalence and temporal trends
- Toenail deformity was the most prevalent complication
- Fat pad atrophy showed the steepest relative increase over time
Female sex
- Female sex protective against xerosis, OR
- 0.76
- Female sex a risk factor for specific deformities and fat pad atrophy
Original publication
Temporal trends of selected diabetic foot deformities and risk factors: an exploratory analysis from a tertiary diabetes clinic. Diabetes Res Clin Pract. Published 6 May 2026. doi:10.
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