Prevalence of non-healed and healed chronic leg ulcers in an elderly rural population.
OBJECTIVE
To estimate the prevalence of non-healed and healed chronic leg ulcers in an elderly rural population.


METHODS
All persons 70 years or older were asked about present and previous leg ulcers.


METHODS
A rural village in mid-west Sweden with 4000 inhabitants.


METHODS
541 persons aged 70 years and above.


METHODS
The prevalence of healed or non-healed chronic leg ulcers in the population aged > or = 70.


RESULTS
Healed or non-healed leg ulcers were reported by 53 persons (9.8%). Examination of these patients and also 100 individuals who had negated present or previous leg ulceration, giving the total prevalence of 12.6%.


CONCLUSIONS
The result indicates a certain risk for overestimation of prevalence, as well as underestimation and decreased reliability when basing the figures only on telephone interviews or posted questionnaires.
Marklund
B
B
Department of Primary Health Care, Göteborg University, Sweden.
Sülau
T
T
Lindholm
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D014945:Wound Healing