The prevalence of leg ulcers in older people: implications for community nursing

The prevalence of chronic leg ulcers has been investigated in older people living in the community. This condition has a low prevalence, but major health costs are associated with frequent home nursing visits, community nursing services being the main providers of care. An estimate was made of the prevalence of chronic leg ulcers in a cross-sectional random sample of noninstitutionalized older people living in a major Australian city (N = 1,050). The prevalence estimate is compatible with estimates of 1% in the over-60 age group found in Swedish and Northern American studies. Age-adjusted gender ratios demonstrate slightly higher prevalence in females than males (1.25:1). Implications for community nursing services for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention are outlined and include education programs for seniors dispelling myths that leg ulcers are a natural part of aging, screening for venous and arterial peripheral vascular disease in the older community, collaborative nurse and podiatrist foot care clinics, and the location of leg ulcer clinics in geriatric day care centers.