Lower limb ulcers

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients seen in the chronic diseases unit of the Clinicas University Hospital

Abstract

Chronic ulcers of the lower limbs constitute a serious medical issue that mainly affects the elderly. These ulcers result in great morbility figures and affect the patient's quality of life, while constituting a significant economic burden for health systems.
Objective: To determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of patients with chronic ulcers of the lower limbs who are seen in our polyclinic.
Method: We conducted a prospective, observational study of the patients seen from August, 2009 through June, 2010.
Results: Sixty four patients were evaluated, 53.1% were female and 46.9% were male. Average age was 65.7 years old.
In terms of their educational level, it was low, 6.3% were illiterate and 67.2% had only completed elementary school studies. Only 1.6% reached, though failed to complete, tertiary education. Average income of the family was 7752 Uruguayan pesos.
In 70.3% of cases ulcers were venous, and in 15.6% of cases ulcers had a combined etiology. Forty eight point four percent of cases presented more than one ulcer and it is worth mentioning that 57.8% of them showed they were more than two years old, and 59.4% of patients had a history of previous ulcers.
Upon progress of the condition, 18.8% of the patients were discharged from hospital, 60.9% continued with treatment and 20.3% abandoned treatment.
Conclusions: In most cases, etiology of the ulcer was venous and it is worth mentioning that patients evidenced a low social an economic level and their ulcers had been present for a long time, what constitute negative facts influencing outcome.