Healing Rates of Venous Leg Ulcers Managed With Compression Therapy: A Secondary Analysis of Data.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to explore average time to heal for patients with venous leg ulcers (VLUs) receiving standard of care that included compression and advanced wound dressings.

DESIGN

Secondary analysis of an existing electronic database.

SUBJECT AND SETTINGS: A convenience sample consisting of 1323 patients with VLUs from various community care sectors (homecare and clinics) across Canada.

METHODS

The Wound Studies database used in the analysis consisted of data from 6 studies conducted prospectively between 1999 and 2009 in which the treatment and delivery of care for all lower leg ulcers (venous, arterial, and mixed) in Canada was examined. From these studies, only patients with VLUs, with an ankle-brachial pressure index of greater than 0.8, and surface area measurements of the ulcers at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months were included. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the proportion of patients who achieved closure at 3 and 6 months and explore the weekly and monthly healing rates for those who did and did not achieve closure. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify predictive factors for healing.

RESULTS

A total of 777 patients (mean age 69 years) met inclusion criteria. The proportion of patients who achieved closure at 3 and 6 months was 42.2% and 48.6%, respectively. Of the participants who achieved wound closure, monthly mean healing rate, measured by percentage of reduction in surface area, was 33.4% (0.56 cm, SD 1.4 [median 0.15 cm]) through month 3, and 31.0% (0.70 cm, SD 1.6 [median 0.08 cm]) through month 6. The overall monthly surface area reduction was 30%.

CONCLUSION

Study findings suggest a monthly surface area reduction of 30% provides a baseline healing rate for VLUs managed with compression therapy and advanced dressings. Findings also suggest standard of care is not sufficient for healing in over 50% of the population, as the proportion of those who achieved closure at 3 and 6 months was 42.2% and 48.6%, respectively.