title: Epidemiology of chronic wounds in Germany: Analysis of statutory health insurance data.
abstract: Epidemiologic analyses in routine care of chronic wounds are scarce, and published studies show wide variations. This study analyzes the population-based prevalence and incidence of chronic wounds in Germany. Secondary analyses of data from a German statutory health insurance with about 9 million insured persons were examined (2010 to 2012). Internal diagnostic validations were used to control for different inclusion criteria. In 2012, 1.04% (95% CI 1.03-1.05) of insured patients had a wound diagnosis, including 0.70% with leg ulcers and 0.27% with diabetic ulcers. Wound treatment was received by 0.43% (0.43-0.44) of patients. Prevalence and incidence increased over 3 years. Extrapolated to the German population, there were 786,407 prevalent and 196,602 incident chronic wounds, including 326,334/172,026 patients who underwent wound-relevant treatment in 2012. There is an annually increasing frequency of chronic wounds in Germany. Chronic wound epidemiology is sensitive to wound treatment as a filter criterion.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Heyer
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herberger
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Protz
authors.affiliation: Center for Social Policy Research, University of Bremen, Bremen, Germany.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Glaeske
authors.affiliation: Institute for Health Services Research in Dermatology and Nursing (IVDP), University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Augustin
mesh_terms: D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007871:Leg Ulcer / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence; D014945:Wound Healing; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*