A recent scoping review of the literature sought to understand the impact the COVID-19 pandemic had on the care of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). While the research team is from Ireland, they review literature from around the globe. Specifically, they analyzed data from 19 published studies, most on single site populations.
Ten of 12 studies reported on DFU outcomes and found a worsening of outcomes compared to pre-pandemic times. Reduced DFU presentations, alongside an increase in urgent hospitalizations and amputation, were key themes that emerged from this review. More high-quality evidence is needed to establish any longer-lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with DFUs. Further, the authors pointed out, there is a lack of evidence relating to the feasibility and success of telemedicine and limited data on changes to service delivery, including triage systems in this patient cohort.
Source: Flynn S, Kirwan E, MacGilchrist C, McIntosh C. The impact of COVID-19 on the care of diabetic foot ulcers: A scoping review. J Tissue Viability. 2024; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtv.2024.06.016. Eprint ahead of publication. Use is per CC BY 4.0.
