Epidemiology of chronic venous ulcers.
A metropolitan population of 238,000 in Perth, Western Australia, was screened for chronic ulceration of the leg. Patients with a chronic leg ulcer and a venous abnormality comprised 57 per cent of all patients with a chronic leg ulcer, giving a prevalence of 0.62 per 1000 population. There was an increasing prevalence with age; 90 per cent of patients were 60 years and older. This group comprised 16.7 per cent of the population, and had a prevalence of 3.3 per 1000. Although chronic venous ulcers were more common in women there was no difference in age related prevalence. In 36 per cent of patients with a venous abnormality, there was at least one other aetiological factor contributing to chronic ulceration of the leg; 96 per cent had either a history of deep venous thrombosis or a condition known to predispose to deep venous thrombosis.
Baker
S R
SR
University Department of Surgery, Fremantle Hospital, Western Australia.
Stacey
M C
MC
Jopp-McKay
A G
AG
Hoskin
S E
SE
Thompson
P J
PJ
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015984:Causality; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D015995:Prevalence; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000150:complications; D014648:Varicose Veins / Q000601:surgery; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology