In this retrospective, single-center observational study, investigators examined the impact of peripheral artery disease (PAD) on outcomes among patients admitted in 2024 for diabetic foot ulcers complicated by moderate or severe infection. The study was published in the Diabetology. A total of 119 consecutive patients were included; 70% had neuro-ischemic diabetic foot attack (PAD+) and 30% had neuropathic diabetic foot attack (PAD−). The mean age was 67 ± 13 years, 75% were male, and 92% had type 2 diabetes with a mean duration of 20 ± 12 years.

In-hospital outcomes (PAD+ vs PAD−) included minor amputation (41.7% vs 25.7%, p=0.09), major amputation (2.4% vs 2.9%, p=0.8), length of stay (21 ± 11 vs 14 ± 11 days, p=0.004), and mortality (3.6% vs 0%, p=0.1). At six months, healing occurred in 40.5% of PAD+ versus 90.6% of PAD− patients (p<0.0001); major amputation occurred in 8.1% vs 3.1% (p=0.1); mortality occurred in 8.1% vs 0% (p=0.01). PAD was independently associated with non-healing (OR 3.6; 95% CI 1.4–12.1; p=0.001).

Limitations include retrospective monocentric design, moderate sample size, lack of detailed PAD severity assessment, and six-month follow-up without specified causes of death.

PAD was associated with longer hospitalization and reduced healing at six months in infected diabetic foot attack. Findings describe associations in this tertiary-care cohort and warrant validation in larger, prospective populations.