Open Access

Socioeconomic Burden of Diabetic Foot Syndrome and Strategies for Reducing Patient Disability

https://doi.org/10.55640/ijsshd-v03i06-05

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Popovych Yaroslav ¹ ,

⁴ Director of the Ivano-Frankivsk Branch of the State Enterprise "Interdepartmental Scientific Centre of Cryobiology and Cryomedicine of the National Academy of Sciences, Academy of Medical Sciences and Ministry of Health of Ukraine" Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the socioeconomic burden of diabetic foot syndrome and modern strategies for reducing patient disability. The study was conducted in the format of a systematic review and analytical synthesis of scientific publications focused on the epidemiology of diabetic foot ulcers, patients’ quality of life, economic losses, organizational aspects of healthcare delivery, and the prevention of severe complications. Particular attention is given to the relationship between late complications of diabetes mellitus, reduced mobility, repeated hospitalizations, amputations, patient social vulnerability, and access to specialized medical care. The key factors contributing to long-term disability are examined, including chronic infection, ischemia, reduced functional independence, low health literacy, fragmentation of follow-up systems, and limited access to early vascular diagnostics. It was established that the persistent socioeconomic burden of diabetic foot syndrome is formed not only by the local ulcerative process, but also by the cumulative influence of organizational, rehabilitative, and social factors. It is substantiated that isolated treatment of complicated ulcers does not ensure a stable reduction in disability, since the risk of recurrent ulcers, amputations, and loss of working capacity is determined by continuity of care, timeliness of multidisciplinary intervention, and the level of patient self-management. The author proposes a multidisciplinary model for disability reduction based on early detection of complications, strengthening the role of primary healthcare, patient education, and continuous monitoring of high-risk patients. The obtained results make it possible to consider modern management strategies for patients with diabetic foot syndrome as a system of long-term medical and social support aimed at preserving functional independence, reducing the frequency of recurrent complications, and decreasing socioeconomic losses.

Keywords

Diabetic foot syndrome, diabetic foot ulcer, disability, quality of life, socioeconomic burden, primary healthcare, multidisciplinary care, amputations

References

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