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Illness Beliefs Predict Mortality in Patients with Diabetic Foot Ulcers

  • Kavita Vedhara
  • , Karen Dawe
  • , Jeremy N V Miles
  • , Mark A Wetherell
  • , Nicky Cullum
  • , Colin Dayan
  • , Nicola Drake
  • , Patricia Price
  • , John Tarlton
  • , John Weinman
  • , Andrew Day
  • , Rona Campbell
  • , Jenna Reps
  • , Daniele Soria

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)
358 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background

Patients' illness beliefs have been associated with glycaemic control in diabetes and survival in other conditions.

Objective

We examined whether illness beliefs independently predicted survival in patients with diabetes and foot ulceration.

Methods

Patients (n = 169) were recruited between 2002 and 2007. Data on illness beliefs were collected at baseline. Data on survival were extracted on 1st November 2011. Number of days survived reflected the number of days from date of recruitment to 1st November 2011.

Results

Cox regressions examined the predictors of time to death and identified ischemia and identity beliefs (beliefs regarding symptoms associated with foot ulceration) as significant predictors of time to death.

Conclusions

Our data indicate that illness beliefs have a significant independent effect on survival in patients with diabetes and foot ulceration. These findings suggest that illness beliefs could improve our understanding of mortality risk in this patient group and could also be the basis for future therapeutic interventions to improve survival.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere0153315
Number of pages13
JournalPLOS ONE
Volume11
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 20 Apr 2016

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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