Factors that influence on non-healing chronic venous ulcers of the lower limbs

• Grant number: 11/14411-7
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Effective date (Start): November 01, 2011
• Effective date (End): October 31, 2012
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Luciana Patrícia Fernandes Abbade
• Grantee: Marilia Formentini Scotton Jorge
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FMB). Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP). Campus de Botucatu. Botucatu , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Chronic ulcers of the lower limbs are those located below the knee that does not heal for a period of six weeks. Approximately 75% of this type of ulcer is venous. Chronic venous ulcers are a public health problem due to their large socioeconomic impact in Brazil and worldwide. The treatment of this entity is complex and its key element is compression therapy. Despite therapeutic advances, the failure of the established therapy is still important. Knowledge of factors associated with non-healing chronic venous ulcers is essential for the development of more effective therapeutic strategies. Objectives: To identify factors related to non-healing chronic venous ulcers of the lower limbs, correlating the non-healing with sociodemographic, clinical, and therapeutic aspects. Methods: A retrospective cohort study with selected patients who attended the clinic of Dermatology in the Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu - UNESP during the period from 2000 to 2009, with chronic venous ulcers of the lower limbs. The evolution of such patients will be studied for a period of one year since the first visit to the service, studying the sociodemographic, clinical, and therapeutic factors that are correlated with the non-healing of ulcers. (AU)