Characteristics of venous leg ulcer patients at a tertiary wound care center

The objective of this study was to assess patient, wound, care, and reflux characteristics of venous leg ulcers (VLUs) to update and improve knowledge of disease etiology, identify barriers to healing, and improve treatment.

Patients diagnosed with VLUs treated at the Stanford Advanced Wound Care Center between 2018 and 2019 were identified from the Healogics iHeal database. We identified 327 VLU entries, of which 133 were patients who had multiple or recurring wounds. An additional 27 patients were labeled as misdiagnosis, resulting in a final patient sample of 167. Patient demographics, wound, care, and ultrasound data for these patients were extracted from the Stanford electronic medical records regarding characteristics. The initial data analysis suggested possible differences in VLU characteristics depending on patient age and body mass index (BMI), which was then further analyzed.

Of the 167 VLU patients assessed, 53.9% were male and 46.1% were female. The mean age was 74.7 years, and the average BMI was 30.2 kg/m², including 41.1% of patients with a BMI over 30 kg/m². Approximately 50% of wounds were presented in multiples, had cellulitis, or were recurring, and 39.5% were caused by trauma. Most common venous reflux patterns on duplex ultrasound examination were below-knee great saphenous vein reflux and calf perforator reflux, which was identified in 37.7% and 29.3% of the patients, respectively. Axial great saphenous vein reflux was detected in 14.4% of patients. When looking at the patient sample under 60 years of age, 67.7% were male, 61.3% presented with venous skin changes, and 51.6% had diabetes. In the patients older than 60, only 51.9% were male, 37.6% presented with venous skin changes, and 31.6% had diabetes. BMI was greater in the patients under age 60, with an average of 39.2 kg/m², compared with 28.2 kg/m² in those above 60. Of the patients with a BMI ≥30 kg/m², 64.3% had multiple wounds, 61.4% had recurring wounds, and 56.5% had venous skin changes. In contrast, in patients with BMI <30 kg/m², 47.4% had multiple wounds, 39.2% had recurring wounds, and 32.0% had venous skin changes.

VLU pathology appears to differ depending on patient demographics and characteristics. Different drivers may influence disease cause, progression, and prognosis, making a standard approach to VLUs difficult. Our findings suggest that identifying different subtypes of VLUs and adapting an algorithm of care with a personalized treatment may help optimize management of these patients.