Chronic ulceration of the leg: extent of the problem and provision of care.
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.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012606:Scotland