Essay About Taiwan Diabetics Mellitus Accounts And Half Of All Lower Extremity Amputations

Diabetes Type I, II
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The main objective of the research was to determine if height is a factor of lower-
extremity amputations among patients with diabetes mellitus (type 1 and 2). Taller
patients with diabetes mellitus have been shown to be more susceptible than shorter
diabetic patients to peripheral sensory loss. Because peripheral sensory loss with the
development of foot ulcers is the most common indication for lower-extremity
amputation among diabetic patients. In Taiwan diabetics mellitus accounts for a third to
half of all lower extremity amputations, the procedure is less common among Taiwanese
people. Similarly low procedures rates have been observed in other Asian populations.
The reason for the difference in rate between ethnic groups is unknown, but height may
be a factor.
The study design was approved and supported by an ad hocethics committee of the
Department of Health of Taiwan. Because more than 96% of Taiwan residents are
covered by the compulsory National Health Insurance plan better known as NHI. In
Taiwan hospitals are more accessible by people in all parts of the land. Because they
dont have to wait for referrals to see doctors on average a patients with diabetes visits an
outpatient clinic 35.8 times per. Therefore changes in patient are carefully monitored in
Taiwan and more often the here in the U.S. The database of 66 hospitals and clinic
located in every region of Taiwan were used to identify all patient seen in these
institutions between 1995 and 1998 with a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. Between Mar 1,
1995 and Apr 30, 2002, trained interviewer administered the survey by telephone using a
structured questionnaire they made up to 3 attempts to research subjects before excluding
them from the study. The interviewers handed in the questionnaires every week, and all
returned questionnaires were checked for internal consistency by an assistant and then
checked again by chin-Hsiao Tseng the researcher. The information obtained during the
interview included demographic data; self reported height and weight; ethnic back
ground of both parents; history of lower extremity amputation; initial symptoms or
clinical events that led to the diagnosis of diabetes. Another interview was conducted
other than by the initial interviewer. The correlation coefficients for the 2 interviewer for
the continuous variables were 0.972, 0.904, 0.626 and 0.436 respectively. Percentage
agreement 91.7% and 97.7% respectively. Height was categorized in quartiles. Logistic
regression analysis were used to estimate the odds ratios.
Of the 128,572 randomly selected subjects 93,484 (72.7%) completed the
telephone survey. The age and sex distribution of the respondents was comparable to that
of the original cohort of the 256,036 patients.