BACKGROUND: Sustained efforts at preventing @entity4760 ( @entity4760 ) and subsequent leg amputations are sporadic in most health care systems despite the high costs associated with such complications. We sought to estimate effectiveness targets at which cost-savings (i.e. improved health outcomes at decreased total costs) might occur. METHODS: A Markov model with probabilistic sensitivity analyses was used to simulate the five-year survival, incidence of foot complications, and total health care costs in a hypothetical population of 100,000 @entity1 with @entity6 . Clinical event and cost estimates were obtained from previously-published trials and studies. A population without previous @entity32436 but with 17% @entity16 and 11% peripheral @entity455 (PAD) prevalence was assumed. Primary prevention (PP) was defined as reducing initial @entity32436 incidence. RESULTS: PP was more than 90% likely to provide cost-savings when annual prevention costs are less than  50/ @entity1 and/or annual @entity32436 incidence is reduced by at least 25%. Efforts directed at @entity1 with @entity6 who were at moderate or high risk for @entity4760 were very likely to provide cost-savings if @entity32436 incidence was decreased by at least 10% and/or the cost was less than  150 per @entity1 per year. CONCLUSIONS: Low-cost @entity32436 primary prevention efforts producing even small decreases in @entity32436 incidence may provide the best opportunity for cost-savings, especially if focused on @entity1 with @entity16 and/or PAD. Mobile phone-based reminders, self-identification of risk factors (ex. Ipswich touch test), and written brochures may be among such low-cost interventions that should be investigated for cost-savings potential.

A model to estimate cost-savings in XXXX foot ulcer prevention efforts.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'person', 'people'] @entity32436 :: ('C106876', 'Chemical') :: ['DFU'] @entity455 :: ('MESH:D014652', 'Disease') :: ['artery disease'] @entity6 :: ('MESH:D003920', 'Disease') :: ['diabetes'] @entity16 :: ('MESH:D009422', 'Disease') :: ['neuropathy'] @entity4760 :: ('MESH:D017719', 'Disease') :: ['diabetic foot ulcers', 'DFUs']
@entity6 :: (MESH:D003920,Disease) :: ['diabetic']
