Objective To compare clinical characteristics in the patients with diabetic foot ulcers(DFU) in 2004 and 2012 in China central urban hospitals and analysize their differences and related factors.Methods For year 2004 and 2012, diabetic foot ulcer data from 14 and 15 central municipal general hospitals located in different big cities in China were collected respectively according to a standard protocol, including the demographic characteristics, medical history, physical and biochemical examinations.The Wagner classification, Texas stage and risk factors of DFU were also compared between two groups.Results 386 cases in 2004 and 682 cases in 2012 were recruited.No significant differences in age, educational level, duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin A1e, triglyceride, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, and prevalence of dyslipidemia, cerebrovascular and peripheral artery disease,peripheral neuropathy between the 2 groups.Compared with the patients in 2004, duration of diabetic foot was shorter, more male, more patients with smoking, lower fasting and postprandial glucose, total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol in 2012.The higher prevalence of hypertension,coronary heart disease, diabetic kidney disease, diabetic retinopathy, and more patients with severe foot disease whose foot ulcer classified as Wagner 3 and above or Texas D (76.6% vs 68.7%, 52.4% vs 29.5%,46.7% vs 34.3%;x2 =6.787, 40.880, 11.028, all P<0.05).There were significantly lower major amputation rate, higher ulcer healing rate in 2012 (2.3% vs 5.9%, 52.3% vs 18.2%, x2 =8.908, 107.773,all P<0.05).Conclusions The patients with DFU in 2004 and 2012 were older, with more male, low educational level, long duration of diabetes, poor control of hyperglycemia and with more cardiovascular risk factors.Compared with the patients in 2004, patients with DFU in 2012 had more concomitant diseases and complications, with more severe foot ulcers, but lower major amputation rate and higher ulcer healing rate.