Clinical predictors of leg ulcer healing.

Background Identification of factors associated with healing can help in understanding the causes of delayed healing in chronic leg ulceration, and can allow for programmes to be developed to modify these factors to improve patient outcomes. Objectives To determine factors associated with healing in patients with chronic leg ulceration of all types within a defined patient population. Methods The patients were identified within the combined acute/community leg ulcer service within Wandsworth Primary Care Trust. All identified patients agreed to be interviewed and those who were able underwent clinical and noninvasive testing to determine the cause of the ulceration. Follow ups were to a maximum of 48 weeks, with time to healing given as the principal outcome measure. Analysis was by the Cox proportional hazards model for both univariate and multivariate analysis. Results were expressed as hazard ratio with 95% confidence intervals derived from the models. Results In total, 113 patients took part in this study. Univariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences for delayed healing according to the ulcer duration (P = 0.002), complexity of the ulcer aetiology (P = 0.035), presence of lipodermatosclerosis (P = 0.02), history of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) (P = 0.03) and thrombophlebitis (P = 0.03). Multivariate analysis showed that ulcer duration (P = 0.014), DVT (P = 0.008) and a lack of Pseudomonas on wound swab (P = 0.005) were independently associated with delayed healing. Conclusions The results indicate the complexity of determining risk factors for poor healing in patients with chronic leg ulceration. There appears to be little scope for interventions to improve healing from the factors identified.

Psychological factors in leg ulceration: a case-control study.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing recognition of the role that psychological status plays in the development and outcomes of chronic disease, but little understanding of its importance in chronic leg ulceration. OBJECTIVES: To examine psychological health and perceived social support in patients with chronic leg ulceration. METHODS: Patients with leg ulceration within a defined population were matched for age and gender (1:1) with community controls in a matched case-control study. Analysis was by conditional logistic regression and matched t-test analysis. RESULTS: Ninety-five patients (60 women and 35 men; 59% aged over 75 years) were identified and matched to the same number of controls. Cases had significantly poorer health-related quality of life in all domains of the Nottingham Health Profile (all P < or = 0.001), compared with controls. Levels of depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale) were significantly greater in the patient group (mean 5.3 vs. 3.6, P < 0.001). Social support (Medical Outcomes Study Social Support Survey scale) showed significantly fewer social networks and less perceived social support in patients than controls (P = 0.008). Patients used significantly fewer coping strategies (COPE scale) than controls, particularly with regard to problem-focused coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with leg ulceration experience poor psychological health with a greater risk of depression, less perceived social support and greater social isolation. Systems of care should offer an environment that reduces social isolation and increases support to this patient group.

Sociodemographic factors in chronic leg ulceration.

BACKGROUND: While there is a commonly held belief that leg ulceration is associated with social factors, the evidence to support this is mainly anecdotal. OBJECTIVES: To determine deficits in sociodemographic status in patients with chronic leg ulceration. In a matched case-control study carried out in community leg ulcer clinics and participants' homes within Wandsworth Primary Care Trust, patients with chronic leg ulceration were compared with age- and sex-matched community controls drawn from general practitioner registers. Main outcome measures were the prevalence of social class, ethnicity, marital status, living status and social support. Data were analysed by conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: In all, 113 patients were identified and matched to controls. Patients had a mean age of 75 years (range 31-94), with 72 (64%) being women. The ulcer had been present for a median of 8 months (range 0.8-144), and 29% of patients had an area of ulceration >10 cm(2) (range 0.5-171.5). Being Afro-Caribbean increased the risk of leg ulceration eightfold (95% confidence interval, CI 1.83-34.75; P < 0.001) compared with the white population. There was a gradient with social class, with patients with leg ulcers being more likely to come from social class IV and V (odds ratio, OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.19-6.74; P = 0.015). Never having married (OR 2.98, 95% CI 1.15-7.74; P = 0.025), living in rented housing (P < 0.001) and having a mobility deficit (P < 0.001) more often occurred in the ulcer patients, while living with a spouse was protective (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.21-0.99; P = 0.048). Patients with ulceration experienced significantly poorer social support than their controls for most subscales of the medical outcomes study social support questionnaire (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Chronic leg ulceration is associated with poorer socioeconomic status, and factors which relate to social isolation. At present it is not possible to determine whether these associations are causative or are a consequence of the ulceration.