The Diagnostic Value of Inflammatory Markers and Nutritional Indicators in Assessing Diabetic Foot Ulcer Area and Prognosis

Wang Lei; Li Jun

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1004-5775.2026.01.011

Abstract：Objective:To explore the role of various inflammatory markers and nutritional indicators in assessing the prognosis of diabetic foot ulcers.Methods:Patients with diabetic foot ulcers undergoing inpatient treatment were selected as study subjects.Fasting venous blood samples were drawn from enrolled patients to assess inflammatory and nutritional markers,and ulcer area measurements were recorded at different treatment stages.Patients were categorized into Wagner grades 1 to 5 according to the Wagner classification system.Results:A total of 74 patients with diabetic foot ulcers were included.Before treatment,the differences in white blood cell count(WBC),neutrophil count(NEUT),hemoglobin(Hb),serum albumin(ALB),C-reactive protein(CRP),procalcitonin(PCT),interleukin-6(IL-6),systemic immune inflammation index(SII),and CRP/ALB ratio between groups were statistically significant(P＜0.05).There were no statistically significant differences in inflammatory markers,nutritional indicators,or other parameters between Wagner stages 2-5 patients during treatment(P＞0.05).Before treatment,diabetic foot ulcer area showed significant correlations with pre-treatment CRP,ALB,and CRP/ALB ratios(P＜0.05).Multiple linear regression analysis indicated a significant linear relationship between pre-treatment ulcer area and CRP,ALB,and CRP/ALB ratios.During treatment,diabetic foot ulcer area showed no significant correlations with inflammatory or nutritional indicators(P＞0.05).Conclusion:CRP,ALB,and CRP/ALB ratios can be used to assess the area of foot ulcer wounds prior to treatment,but they cannot be used to evaluate the recovery of foot ulcer wound area during treatment.