Three in every five Barbadians who have had major amputations will die within five years of the operation.
Minister of Health Donville Inniss made this declaration in Coverly Square, Christ Church, yesterday at the launch of The Wound Management Centre.
Inniss noted that diabetes was among the top five causes of death in the country.
“The 2007 risk factor survey for Barbados revealed that almost 15 per cent of persons over the age of 25 years are living with diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is currently among the top five causes of death in the country and also contributes to death from heart disease and stroke.
“Diabetes via the ‘diabetic foot’ also remains the most common cause of digit or limb amputation as well, accounting for the majority of these 180 to 200 procedures performed per year.
“Unfortunately, amputation is also a predictor of death, with an estimated 60 per cent of individuals with a major amputation dying within five years of the procedure,” he said.
According to Inniss, costs related to care and lost productivity were estimated at just under two per cent of gross domestic product or over $75 million in 2001.
