Engineering-based statistical analysis of amputation prevalence and the impact of contributing factors in 4 Iraqi cities (1980-2024).

Abstract

Purpose: The number of amputations, which rises during specific periods in most countries, is due to numerous causes and is accompanied by continuous psychological, social, and economic effects for patients. This study aims to construct a data bank of amputees for the first time by collecting and analyzing data from 4 centres in Iraq (the health centres of the amputee in Karbala, Najaf, Babylon, and Wasit cities).

Methods: This study was conducted retrospectively on all amputees in dataset for the period from January 1980 to December 2024. The inclusion criteria for the data bank include clinical and demographic data for amputation cases, such as sex, age, ID, type of amputation, date of amputation, cause of amputation, level of amputation, name of health center, etc. Amputation cases were excluded from this study that had missing data, unclear records, outside the chosen cities, and redundant or repeated records.

Results: There were 9030 subjects (7446 male and 1584 female) included in this research. The results show that the highest rates of amputation were noticed in (40-69 years) for the age groups. Furthermore, it significantly indicated that females had a lower amputation rate compared to males. Also, the largest percentage of amputation was in Babylon followed by Najaf, Karbala, and Waist among the 4 selected cities. The major reason for amputation was the wars in Iraq. The below-knee amputation was the most common. Additionally, most of the decades that occurred amputations were in the years 2010-2019 that followed 1980-1989. We also noted that Iraq has the largest number of amputees compared to the other countries included in the investigation.

Conclusion: Based on these results, future potentials must focus on planting a national Iraqi database for amputees every year. Also, it should find the premature diagnosis of all diseases that cause amputations. All these processes can be performed through the cooperation between health centres, research centres in the universities, and the government of Iraq.