title: Epidemiology of chronic cutaneous wounds in China.
abstract: Chronic cutaneous wounds represent a major health care burden in China. However, limited information exists regarding the epidemiologic changes associated with recent social and economic development. We designed a cross-sectional survey in 2,513 patients who underwent treatment of chronic cutaneous wounds from a nationally representative sample in 17 hospitals between 2007 and 2008. Results revealed the prevalence of chronic cutaneous wounds among hospitalized patients was 1.7‰. Patient ages ranged from 18 days to 96 years (median, 58 years). The highest ratios were among 40-60 and 60-80-year-old patients (31% and 38%, respectively). The leading causes of chronic cutaneous wounds were diabetes (31.3% men, 35.3% women) trauma (26.4% men, 19.2% women). Manual workers (38.5% men, 29.3% women) and retirees (27.9% men, 23.5% women) accounted for over half the chronic cutaneous wound patients. Regarding treatments, only 22.4% were treated with modern dressings or other novel technologies and more patients received antibiotics (77.8%). Treatment was paid for by the patients in 42.3% of cases, by social medical insurance in 25.0%, by commercial medical insurance in 4.8%, while 27.9% received free medical care. Approximately half the patients' wounds were completely healed at discharge (1,345/2,513). In conclusion, diabetes has recently become the leading cause of chronic cutaneous wounds in China. The large population and considerable financial burden mean that serious attention should be paid to the early detection, prevention and diagnosis of chronic cutaneous wounds, and suggest that an overall health insurance system should be established, especially for the elderly.
authors.affiliation: Wound Healing Unit, Trauma Center of Postgraduate Medical College, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Yufeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Sha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xiaobing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xingwu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ran
authors.forename: Shuliang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Dahai
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Hongwei
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Runxiu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Ting
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Lingfeng
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiangbai
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Chunmao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Huade
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012867:Skin / Q000293:injuries*; D055815:Young Adult