Sociocultural profile of Charcot Neuro-Osteoartropathy patients and its impact on stabilization

Aim: The aim of our study was to test the impact of sociocultural characteristics of patients with Charcot Neuro-Osteoartropathy (CNO) on clinical evolution of the disease. Methods: We retrospectively collected data of all CNO patients with an acute episode in the last four years (2020-2023), followed in our clinic. Clinical and demographic characteristics and sociocultural factors including distance from our clinic, residential area (urban, suburban or rural), level of education, family support and employment were collected. We correlated these factors with clinical and radiological stabilization. Results: We studied 52 patients (male/female 36.5/63.5%, mean age 69.1±9.7 yrs, duration of diabetes at CNO diagnosis 18.7±15.4 yrs, type 1/2 diabetes 23.1/76.9%). Their distance from our clinic was 62.4±89.1 km. The residential environment was urban in 25.0% of patients, suburban in 28.8% and rural in 46.2%. The average number of years of education was 10.1±4.8 years. 15.4% of patients lived alone, 38.4% with spouse or single relative and 46.2% with sons. At CNO diagnosis, 46.2% of patients were still working and 53.8% were retired from 5.2±5.7 years. Patients achieved clinical stabilisation after 282.3±224.1 days and radiological stabilization after 264.8±272.0 days. Both time of stabilization were positively associated to distance from our clinic (p<0.001) and inversely related to years of instruction (p<0.001). Time of stabilization was conditioned by residential area (p<0.02 urban vs others and p<0.005 suburban vs rural) as well as by family support (p<0.04). Patients who were still working at diagnosis had a longer stabilization time (p<0.02), while in retired ones, it positively correlated with years of rest (p<0.02). Cox multivariate regression confirmed the prognostic role of distance from the clinic (HR 1.77, CI 95% 1.16-2.51, p=0.028), of residential environment (HR 1.81, CI 95% 1.24-2.01, p=0.022) and level of education (HR 0.65, CI 95% 0.26-0.81, p=0.017). Conclusion: Socio-cultural conditions have a significant impact on CNO history. In particular, patients with greater barriers to physical access and awareness of the condition have worse clinical and radiological outcomes.