Decreasing rates of major lower-extremity amputation in people with diabetes but not in those without: a nationwide study in Belgium

The reduction of major lower-extremity amputations (LEAs) is one of the main goals in diabetes care. Our aim was to estimate annual LEA rates in individuals with and without diabetes in Belgium, and corresponding time trends. Data for 2009–2013 were provided by the Belgian national health insurance funds, covering more than 99% of the Belgian population (about 11 million people). We estimated the age–sex standardised annual amputation rate...