Table 1

Baseline characteristics of the intention-to-treat population

CharacteristicAllEnhanced therapyUsual careMissing values
Number of participants304151153
Age (years)64.6±10.565.0±10.664.2±10.5
Male sex220 (72.4%)109 (72.2%)111 (72.5%)
Ethnic origin: Caucasian283 (93.1%)140 (92.7%)143 (93.5%)
Type of diabetes4 (1.3%)
 Type 166 (21.7%)30 (19.9%)36 (23.5%)
 Type 2234 (77.0%)119 (79.9%)115 (75.3%)
Years diagnosed with diabetes20±1420±1421±153 (1.0%)
HbA1c (mmol/mol)60.7±16.060.5±16.560.9±15.565 (21.4%)
Body mass index (kg/m2)29.8±5.329.6±5.430±5.31 (0.3%)
Retinopathy151 (49.7%)83 (55.0%)68 (44.4%)2 (0.7%)
Nephropathy60 (19.7%)31 (20.5%)29 (19.0%)1 (0.3%)
Dialysis4 (1.3%)0 (0.0%)4 (2.6%)
Smoking or history of smoking169 (55.6%)88 (58.3%)81 (52.9%)
1 unit alcohol intake per week199 (65.5%)102 (67.5%)97 (63.4%)
Living alone105 (34.5%)52 (34.4%)53 (34.6%)
Using a walking aid89 (29.3%)49 (32.5%)40 (26.1%)
Education2 (0.7%)
 Low117 (38.5%)61 (40.4%)56 (36.6%)
 Medium96 (31.6%)45 (29.8%)51 (33.3%)
 High89 (29.3%)44 (29.1%)45 (29.4%)
Employed75 (24.7%)38 (25.2%)37 (24.2%)
Footwear2 (0.7%)
 Conventional97 (31.9%)52 (34.4%)45 (29.4%)
 Semi custom-made37 (12.2%)19 (12.6%)19 (12.4%)
 Full custom-made168 (55.3%)80 (53.0%)89 (58.2%)
Walking barefoot at home113 (37.2%)54 (35.8%)59 (38.6%)
Participating center category
 University Medical Center88 (28.9%)42 (27.8%)46 (30.1%)
 Community hospital134 (44.1%)68 (45.0%)66 (43.1%)
 Podiatry practice82 (27.0%)41 (27.2%)41 (26.8%)
Participating center
 Amsterdam UMC, location AMC95 (31.3%)47 (31.1%)48 (31.4%)
 Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc18 (5.9%)9 (6.0%)9 (5.9%)
 Maastricht UMC+25 (8.2%)12 (7.9%)13 (8.5%)
 Ziekenhuisgroep Twente49 (16.1%)23 (15.2%)26 (17.0%)
 Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis41 (13.5%)21 (13.9%)20 (13.1%)
 Maxima Medisch Centrum64 (21.1%)32 (21.2%)32 (20.9%)
 Medisch Spectrum Twente12 (3.9%)7 (4.6%)5 (3.3%)
Frequency of professional foot care, every:
 1–4 weeks82 (27.0%)41 (27.2%)41 (26.8%)
 5–8 weeks199 (65.5%)102 (67.5%)97 (63.4%)
 >8 weeks23 (7.6%)8 (5.3%)15 (9.8%)
LOPS based on inability to sense
 10 g monofilament276 (90.8%)138 (91.4%)138 (90.2%)
 128 Hz tuning fork only28 (9.2%)13 (8.6%)15 (9.8%)
Peripheral artery disease
 Grade 1230 (75.7%)114 (75.5%)116 (75.8%)
 Grade 274 (24.3%)37 (24.5%)37 (24.2%)
Foot deformity
 Absent17 (5.6%)10 (6.6%)7 (4.6%)
 Mild58 (19.1%)32 (21.2%)26 (17.0%)
 Moderate202 (66.4%)99 (65.6%)103 (67.3%)
 Severe27 (8.9%)10 (6.6%)17 (11.1%)
Minor lesions at entry*121 (39.8%)54 (35.8%)67 (43.8%)31 (10.2%)
Amputation†
 No amputation223 (73.4%)110 (72.8%)113 (73.9%)
 Lesser toe(s)29 (9.5%)14 (9.3%)15 (9.8%)
 Hallux or ray39 (12.8%)19 (12.6%)20 (13.1%)
 Forefoot6 (2.0%)5 (3.3%)1 (0.7%)
 Major7 (2.3%)3 (2.0%)4 (2.6%)
Previous ulcer site1 (0.3%)
 Plantar forefoot95 (31.3%)50 (33.1%)45 (29.4%)
 Medial/lateral/interdigital/apex forefoot104 (34.2%)52 (34.4%)52 (34.0%)
 Plantar midfoot/hindfoot23 (7.6%)11 (7.3%)12 (7.8%)
 Dorsal side of the foot72 (23.7%)34 (22.5%)38 (24.8%)
 No previous ulcer (ie, Charcot foot)‡9 (3.0%)4 (2.6%)5 (3.3%)
Months between healing of most recent ulcer and study entry7 (2–14)8 (2–15)6 (2–12)10 (3.3%)‡
Months duration of last two previous ulcers4 (2–9)4 (2–8)4 (2–9)1 (0.3%)
  • Data are n (%), mean±SD, or median (IQR).

  • *Minor lesion defined as a hemorrhage, blister, abundant callus, or erythema, identified at entry and confirmed present from photographic assessment.

  • †In case of bilateral amputation, the highest level was chosen.

  • ‡Including nine participants that were included based on having a history of Charcot neuro-osteoarthropathy and having no history of ulceration.

  • AMC, Academic Medical Center; LOPS, loss of protective sensation; UMC, University Medical Center; VUmc, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center.