Declining incidence of major lower-extremity amputations in the Northern Danish Region between 2016 and 2021: The impact of diabetes and preventive vascular procedures

Background: Preventing lower-extremity amputations (LEAs) is pivotal. In the present study, we aimed to examine the recent trends in nontraumatic LEAs seen in the Northern Danish Region. Methods: Using data from the regional Business Intelligence unit, we identified all nontraumatic LEAs (n = 689) performed in people above 50 years of age in the Northern Danish Region between January 2016 and December 2021 (approximately 600,000 inhabitants). Persons with diabetes (n = 26,025) were identified based on International Classification of Diseases-10 codes and data from the National Health Insurance Service Registry, while preventive vascular procedures (n = 1,097) were identified using surgical codes. Major LEA was defined as any amputation above the ankle. Incidence rates were expressed as events per 1,000 person-years. Trends were described as differences between the periods 2016–2018 and 2019–2021. Results: A total of 249 (36%) major LEAs were performed in people with diabetes. People with diabetes were younger (71 vs 77 years, P < 0.001) and more frequently male (70% versus 54%, P < 0.001). Between 2016–2018 and 2019–2021, the incidence of major LEA declined from 1.76 (95% CI: 1.75–1.76) to 1.39 (1.39–1.39) in people with diabetes and from 0.47 (0.47–0.47) to 0.20 (0.20–0.20) in people without diabetes (all P < 0.001). Simultaneously, the incidence of preventive vascular surgery increased from 2.26 (2.26–2.26) to 3.48 (3.48–3.48) in people with diabetes and declined slightly in people without 0.49 (0.49–0.49) to 0.47 (0.47–0.47) (all P < 0.001). Conclusions: Despite significant declines in major LEA in both people with and without diabetes, most of the decline was driven by a large reduction in major LEAs in people without diabetes.