Kevin Sun
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Kevin Sun has a total of 6 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Carrie Tackett
Community Memorial Hospital, Ventura, CA
1 shared publication - Chia-Ding Shih
USC Keck School of Medicine: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
1 shared publication - David G. Armstrong
Department of Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
1 shared publication - Elizabeth Miranda
Program in Global Surgery and Social Change, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
1 shared publication - Laura Shin
Division of Vascular Surgery and Endovascular Therapy, Keck Medicine of University of Southern California, 1520 San Pablo St., Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA
1 shared publication - Tze-Woei Tan
USC Keck School of Medicine: University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 3 March 2026
- Published by MDPI AG in Diabetology
- Vol. 7 (3) , 52
Medicaid Insurance Is Independently Associated with Higher Risks of Diabetic Foot Infection and Amputation: A National Cohort Study
Background: Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are a major cause of hospitalization, limb loss, and mortality among patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). This study evaluated the risk of developing DFIs among patients with newly diagnosed DFUs across insurance categories. Methods: Adults ≥18 years with a new DFU diagnosis were identified in the PearlDiver insurance claims database (2010–2020) using validated ICD-9/10 codes. Insurance status at the index DFU was categorized as Medicaid, Medicare, commercial, or self-pay. Propensity score matching (1:3) based on age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and major comorbidities was used to compare Medicaid vs. non-Medicaid patients. Results: Among 258,122 patients with new DFUs, 20,638 (8.0%) were Medicaid beneficiaries. Medicaid patients were younger (50.1 ± 10.2 vs. 60.6 ± 12.1 years, p < 0.001) but had similar comorbidity burden compared with commercially insured and Medicare patients. In matched analysis post-matching, Medicaid insurance was independently associated with higher odds of DFI-related hospitalization within 12 months (aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.14–1.24) and major amputation at 3 years (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.39–2.13). Higher CCI, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, COPD, and peripheral vascular disease also predicted adverse outcomes. Conclusions: Medicaid insurance was independently associated with increased risks of DFI and major amputation among patients with newly diagnosed DFUs. These findings highlight infection as a potentially modifiable pathway driving limb loss and emphasize the need to improve early ulcer evaluation and infection management for Medicaid beneficiaries.
- 3 March 2026
- Published by MDPI AG in Diabetology
- Vol. 7 (3) , 52
Open AccessMedicaid Insurance Is Independently Associated with Higher Risks of Diabetic Foot Infection and Amputation: A National Cohort Study
Background: Diabetic foot infections (DFIs) are a major cause of hospitalization, limb loss, and mortality among patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). This study evaluated the risk of developing DFIs among patients with newly diagnosed DFUs across insurance categories. Methods: Adults ≥18 years with a new DFU diagnosis were identified in the PearlDiver insurance claims database (2010–2020) using validated ICD-9/10 codes. Insurance status at the index DFU was categorized as Medicaid, Medicare, commercial, or self-pay. Propensity score matching (1:3) based on age, sex, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and major comorbidities was used to compare Medicaid vs. non-Medicaid patients. Results: Among 258,122 patients with new DFUs, 20,638 (8.0%) were Medicaid beneficiaries. Medicaid patients were younger (50.1 ± 10.2 vs. 60.6 ± 12.1 years, p < 0.001) but had similar comorbidity burden compared with commercially insured and Medicare patients. In matched analysis post-matching, Medicaid insurance was independently associated with higher odds of DFI-related hospitalization within 12 months (aOR 1.18, 95% CI 1.14–1.24) and major amputation at 3 years (aOR 1.72, 95% CI 1.39–2.13). Higher CCI, chronic kidney disease, congestive heart failure, COPD, and peripheral vascular disease also predicted adverse outcomes. Conclusions: Medicaid insurance was independently associated with increased risks of DFI and major amputation among patients with newly diagnosed DFUs. These findings highlight infection as a potentially modifiable pathway driving limb loss and emphasize the need to improve early ulcer evaluation and infection management for Medicaid beneficiaries.