Chronic ulceration of the leg: extent of the problem and provision of care.

TLDR

The study aims to improve chronic leg ulcer management by prioritizing primary health care. A postal survey across two Scottish health board areas covering about one million people identified 1,477 chronic leg ulcer patients. Among the 1,477 patients, women were 2.8 times more common than men, with median ages 74 and 67 respectively, and 83 % were managed entirely in the community, 12 % jointly by primary and outpatient care, and 5 % as hospital inpatients.

Abstract

A postal survey in two health board areas in Scotland, encompassing a population of about one million, identified 1477 patients with chronic ulcers of the leg. Women outnumbered men by a ratio of 2.8:1. The median age of the women was 74 and of the men 67. Seventy two (5%) were hospital inpatients, 174 (12%) were managed jointly by the primary care team and outpatient departments, and 1201 (83%) were managed entirely in the community. Efforts to improve the management of chronic ulcers of the leg should focus on primary health care.