title: US skin disease assessment: ulcer and wound care.
abstract: Chronic ulcers are a growing cause of patient morbidity and contribute significantly to the cost of health care in the United States. The most common etiologies of chronic ulcers include venous leg ulcers (VLUs), pressure ulcers (PrUs), diabetic neuropathic foot ulcers (DFUs), and leg ulcers of arterial insufficiency. Chronic wounds account for an estimated $6 to $15 billion annually in US health care costs; however, it is difficult to get accurate measurements on this, because these patients are often seen in a variety of settings or simply fail to access the health care system.
authors: Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02912, USA. alina_markova@brown.edu
authors: Alina
authors: A
authors: Markova
authors: Eliot N
authors: EN
authors: Mostow
mesh_terms: D003880:Dermatology; D017719:Diabetic Foot / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D012883:Skin Ulcer / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D014481:United States; D014945:Wound Healing