To analyze the basic condition and treatment cost of outpatient diabetic foot patients, and analyze the influencing factors of treatment cost.

Patients with diabetic foot admitted to the Wound Care Center of West China Hospital of Sichuan University from October 2020 to June 2022 were selected for retrospective analysis of the general and wound data of the patients, including gender, age, history of diabetes, affected foot, Wagner grades, duration of ulcers, site of ulcers, size, treatment cost, treat frequency, patient's dispositon, etc, analyzed the influencing factors of treatment cost in outpatients with diabetic foot. Data were compared by Chi-square test, nonparametric test and multiple linear stepwise regression.

A total of 194 patients with diabetic foot and 671 treatment records were included, among which male patients accounted for 69.75% and female patients accounted for 30.25%, more males than females. Young and middle-aged patients under 60 years old accounted for 33.68%, patients between 60 and 74 years old accounted for 30.70%, and patients aged 75 and above accounted for 35.62%. The majority of patients with diabetes history of 10 years or more were 68.26%, and those with diabetes history of less than 10 years were 31.74%. The majority of patients were on one foot, with left foot and right foot accounting for 44.71% and 52.01%, respectively, and both feet accounted for 3.28%. The Wagner grades of diabetic foot was mainly grade 3 and above, among which 46.80% were grade 3 patients, 47.84% were grade 4 to 5 patients and 5.37% were grade 1 to 2 patients. The duration of diabetic foot ulcer was chronic ulcer over 1 month, accounting for 79.28%, and patients within 1 month accounted for 20.72%. The ulcers were mainly located on the toe (41.58%) and the sole/dorsal/heel (40.39%). Most of the patients were hospitalized (37.56%) and transferred to medical institutions/home (42.32%). The median single treatment cost of patients was 83.42 (65.49, 103.82) yuan, and the highest single treatment cost was 385 yuan.The median cumulative cost of treatment was 112.34 (73.02, 221.52) yuan, and the highest cumulative treatment cost was 4919.57 yuan. Univariate analysis showed that treatment cost of diabetic foot patients was related to age (χ²=17.515, P=0.000), foot (χ²=15.633, P=0.000) and patient's dispositon(χ²=8.054, P=0.045). Multiple stepwise regression analysis showed that the factor affecting the cost of treatment for outpatient diabetic foot patients was age (t=-2.735, P=0.006).

The influencing factor of treatment cost for outpatient diabetic foot patients was age, and the cost was higher in middle-aged and young patients. The cost of treatment in outpatient clinic is an important part of the burden of diabetic foot disease. The ability of scientific grading management of diabetic foot patients should be improved.