Factors predicting lower extremity amputations in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus: a population‐based 7‐year follow‐up study

Abstract

Lower extremity amputations were strongly associated with retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. The presence of any of these complications should lead to intensified actions in order to prevent amputations. As far as arterial circulation is concerned, claudication or absent peripheral pulses were not good predictors of amputation, whereas low ABI, despite its known weaknesses, was a reliable indicator of future amputation.