title: Socioeconomic impact of chronic venous insufficiency and leg ulcers.
abstract: Chronic venous insufficiency affects approximately 5% and chronic leg ulcer approximately 1% of the adult population of developed countries. Not only do recent quality of life studies highlight major disability and social impairment but, since this is a condition characterized by chronicity and relapse, it gives rise to massive health care expenditure amounting in the UK to around Pounds 400 million per annum. Venous disease consumes 1-2% of the health care budgets of European countries. Imprecise disease classifications and codings impede the acquisition of accurate data but there is a compelling need for better quality socioeconomic data concerning this long-neglected health care problem.
authors.affiliation: Department of the Vascular Unit, Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: C V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Ruckley
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy; D011788:Quality of Life; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000191:economics* / Q000628:therapy