[Compression Therapy in Patients with Leg Ulcers - which Costs do Really Occur?]

Area of Science:

• Vascular Medicine
• Wound Care Management
• Health Economics

Background:

• Leg ulcers frequently present with severe lower extremity edema, necessitating comprehensive treatment.
• Current standard compression therapy in Germany often relies on error-prone short-stretch bandages.
• Limited knowledge and cost concerns hinder the adoption of advanced compression systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and compare the costs of different compression therapy options for leg ulcers.
• To differentiate economic analyses between inpatient and outpatient treatment settings.
• To evaluate the economic viability of modern compression systems versus traditional methods.

Main Methods:

• Economic evaluation incorporating material and personnel costs.
• Scenario-based cost analysis for various compression therapy approaches.
• Comparative assessment of costs in inpatient and outpatient healthcare environments.

Main Results:

• Daily costs for continuous compression therapy in inpatients range from 5.29 to 18.50 Euros.
• Daily costs for outpatient compression therapy range from 2.29 to 34.29 Euros.
• Economic factors support the implementation of diverse compression therapy constellations.

Conclusions:

• Therapists require comprehensive knowledge of compression systems and their economic implications for leg ulcer patients.
• Prescription and application of compression therapy should be individualized based on patient needs and capabilities.
• Economic considerations alongside medical benefits should guide the choice of compression therapy for leg ulcers.