GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Are Associated With Reduced Mortality Following Diabetic Foot Ulcers: A Nationwide Observational Study.

Abstract

This nationwide study aimed to identify factors associated with 1-year mortality following a first diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) using the French National Health Data System (SNDS). A secondary objective was to analyze mortality after major lower-limb amputation within the same time frame. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using SNDS data to identify adults with incident DFUs between January 2017 and December 2018, with 12 months of follow-up. Inclusion criteria combined hospitalization records and community care data. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate associations with mortality, adjusting for demographic, clinical, treatment, and care access variables. Among 133,791 individuals with incident DFU, 14.6% died within 1 year, and 3.5% underwent a major amputation. Of those amputated, 28.8% died within a year. Independent predictors of 1-year mortality included male sex, older age, hospital-acquired DFU, insulin, major amputation, cardiovascular disease, cancer, dementia, ESKD, and liver disease. Protective factors included lipid-lowering therapy, glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, and prior consultations with diabetologists, ophthalmologists, and podiatrists. Similar patterns were observed for postamputation mortality, with GLP-1 receptor agonists showing a consistent survival benefit. One-year mortality after DFU remains high and is strongly linked to age and comorbidities. Community-based identification highlights the vulnerability of these patients, even outside hospital settings. Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists and structured, multidisciplinary follow-up are associated with better survival and should be prioritized. These findings underline the urgent need to reinforce preventive care and optimize care pathways for high-risk diabetic populations.