The impact of chronic wounds
Chronic wounds have a major socioeconomic impact due to their frequency, chronic nature, and societal costs. Patients experience substantial quality of life (QoL) impairments. The most common underlying diseases are chronic venous insufficiency, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, diabetes (diabetic foot ulcers), or pathologic pressure (pressure ulcer).
These conditions and the wounds associated with them can cause severe pain, social isolation, and restricted mobility, thus burdening daily life. Patients who are living with chronic wounds may also experience psychological challenges and conditions such as clinical depression.
As most affected patients are elderly, chronic wounds often coincide with other morbidities common among this age group (eg, vascular disease, hypertension, obesity), adding further physical and psychological strain. Medical care in the outpatient wound clinic should focus on maintaining or enhancing quality of life. The use of questionnaires for a continuous assessment of QoL and resulting interventions to improve the situation of the individual are an important cornerstone of a guideline-based wound care.
