Association Between Systemic Inflammatory Response index and Diabetic Foot Ulcer in the US Population with Diabetes in the NHANES: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional Study

Diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) is a common complication of diabetes. It is often accompanied by infection and, in severe cases, necessitates amputation. Early diagnosis and monitoring are crucial for improving prognosis. Novel inflammatory biomarkers, such as the systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) are useful for the diagnosis and predicting prognosis of some diseases. This study aimed to clarify the association between SIRI, NLR, PLR and DFU and assess their utility for early diagnosis and monitoring of DFU. Cross-sectional data were extracted on individuals with diabetes who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) between 1999 to 2004. DFU was diagnosed based on the presence of foot ulcers that had not healed within 4 weeks. Weighted multivariable regression, subgroup analysis, and smooth curve fitting were used to evaluate the relationships between the SIRI, NLR, and PLR with DFU.A total of 1204 participants were included in the analysis, of whom 112 had DFUs. Participants with DFUs had higher NLR, PLR, and SIRI values than those without DFUs. For each unit increase in SIRI, the prevalence of DFU increased by 27% . Subgroup analyses showed a consistent association between an elevated SIRI and the prevalence of DFUs.SIRI is a low-cost, readily accessible biomarker that can be used in conjunction with NLR and PLR to assess the severity and predict the prognosis of DFU. Continuous monitoring of these indicators could assist with early diagnosis and management of DFU.