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BACKGROUND: There is a growing prevalence of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) in patients with diabetes mellitus and the use of thermography has sparked interest in a non-invasive diagnostic method for early DFU risk assessment and management. AIM: This systematic review aims to assess the use of thermography in predicting diabetic foot ulcer risk in patients with diabetes mellitus. METHODS: A systematic search of publications using MEDLINE, CINAHL, and Cochrane databases was conducted in April 2023, and relevant articles were reviewed. Data was extracted and a narrative synthesis was undertaken. The evidence-based librarianship (EBL) checklist assessed the methodological quality of the studies included. Reviewing these articles to the primary and secondary outcomes of this literature review. The primary outcome focused on the predictive capabilities of thermography for DFU prediction, while the secondary outcome assessed the feasibility, usability, and effectiveness of thermography. RESULTS: Eight studies were conducted from 1994 to 2021 with an emphasis on the predictability of thermography in predicting DFU risk. All eight studies focused on temperature variations associated with DFU development. Six of the included studies compared the effectiveness of DFU occurrence in diabetic patients and non-DFU use. The overall results showed that employing thermography in DFU prevention might allow for early detection and intervention, offering a non-invasive and effective means to reduce the risk of DFU development and its associated complications in patients with diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: The systematic review indicates that thermography holds promise for predicting DFU risk, with studies showcasing predictive capabilities and patient benefits. Despite some challenges and limitations, the evidence suggests thermography's value in assessing DFU risk in diabetes patients, warranting further research on device types and locations.
Sivakumar et al. (Sat,) studied this question.