12 Nov New Tool Predicts Risk of Blindness and Amputation in Diabetes

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Prof. Julia Hippisley-Cox PhD
Professor of Clinical Epidemiology & General Practice
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences
The University of Nottingham 

Medical Research: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Prof. Hippisley–Cox:

         Patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are at increased risk of blindness and amputation but generally do not have an accurate assessment of the magnitude of their individual risk. There are currently no tools available to calculate risk of other complications such as amputation or blindness. This is important since these are the complications which patients with diabetes fear most and which most impair quality of life. They are also the complications for which patients are most likely to over-estimate their risk and over-estimate the benefits of intensive treatment.

         We have developed and externally validated new risk prediction algorithms which calculates absolute risk of developing these complications over a 10 year period in patients with diabetes, taking account of their individual risk factors.

Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Prof. Hippisley–Cox: It is now possible to give patients a more accurate estimate of the absolute risk (ie their chances) of developing blindness or having an amputation, based on their profile.

The tool can be found HERE.

Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Prof. Hippisley–Cox:

1. To assess how well the tool works in countries outside of the UK such as the US.
2. To assess acceptability and usability for patients and doctors.
3. Whether the use of the tool can help reduce complication rates.

Citation:

Prof. Julia Hippisley-Cox PhD (2015). New Tool Predicts Risk of Blindness and Amputation in Diabetes 

Last Updated on November 12, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD