title: Ulcer due to chronic venous disease: a sociodemographic study in northeastern Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Venous ulcers account for 70% of chronic leg ulcers and affect about 2-7% of the population, causing much socioeconomic impact and reducing patients' quality of life. In this study we aimed to describe the clinical features of venous ulcers and sociodemographic characteristics of patients with ulcers due to chronic venous disease (CVD).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross-sectional, observational study was conducted at the Vascular Surgery Service, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, in northeastern Brazil. The study included a consecutive series of 154 patients with active venous ulcers (CEAP C6) in the lower limb due to CVD. Sociodemographic characteristics (age, gender, race, monthly income, education, occupation, and caregiver) and clinical data (affected limb, ulcer site, etiopathogenesis, recurrence, and time elapsed since the first episode of ulcer) were collected. A possible correlation of time elapsed since the first episode of ulcer and number of recurrences with primary or secondary etiology was analyzed by Mann-Whitney U-test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 154 patients analyzed, 79% were female, 94% were ethnically black or brown, 90% had a monthly income less than or equal to minimum wage, 47% were illiterate, 35% had not completed elementary school, 50% had informal jobs, 19.5% were retired, and 18.2% received sick pay from the social security system. The mean age was 53.7 years. Both limbs were affected similarly, and venous ulcers were located predominantly on the medial aspect of the leg (84%). The median time elapsed since the first episode of ulcer was 36 months, being significantly higher in patients with venous ulcers of secondary etiology (P < 0.0003). The prevalence of recurrence was also significantly higher in patients with venous ulcers of secondary etiology (P < 0.001). According to CEAP classification, 65% of ulcers were primary (Ep), 94.1% demonstrated reflux involving the superficial system (As), 92% had incompetent perforators (Ap), 35% demonstrated reflux involving the deep system (Ad), and all ulcers showed reflux without obstruction (Pr).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Venous ulcers were more prevalent among low-income patients, especially chronic, recurrent ulcers of primary etiology. This finding highlights the need for improvements in patient care and surgical treatment in most cases aimed at ulcer healing and reduced recurrence. Better care would improve patients' quality of life and reduce social security expenditures.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Surgery Service, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, SE, Brazil. aline@scibooks.com.br
authors.forename: Edson Marques
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Winston Bonetti
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Valdinaldo Aragão
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: de Melo
authors.forename: José Aderval
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Aragão
authors.forename: Luiz Augusto Bitencurt
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: de Oliveira
mesh_terms: D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014647:Varicose Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D014689:Venous Insufficiency / Q000150:complications*