Acta Vulnologica 2011 March;9(1):37-44

Copyright © 2011 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English, Italian

Chronic skin ulcers in elderly patients: what are the outcomes?

Calveri M., Luna L., Peruzza S.

Geriatric Unit, Conegliano Hospital, ULSS 7, Pieve di Soligo, Treviso, Italy

Aim. It is a known fact that conditions of fragility in elderly patients can significantly affect clinical outcome. The main aim of this study was to assess whether there is any correlation between the conditions of comorbidity, functional status, cognitive performance and clinical outcome in a population of elderly people who are patients of the clinic of our UOS Geriatric Wound Care Unit.
Methods. Using an epidemiological retrospective analysis (with a database that adopts EPI-INFO software) we compared the mean values for CIRS (Cumulative Illness Rating Scale), ADL (Activities of Daily Living), SPMSQ (Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire) and other clinical parameters, of 200 patients who have recovered from chronic skin ulcers on their lower limbs, to see if there is any correlation with the healing times in terms of predictive risk (defined clinical outcome).
Results. The age, above all in the 80 to 90 year bracket, has a negative influence on some parameters. The age of >84, a high comorbidity score (CIRS>6), cognitive impairment (SPMSQ>4) and assumption of more than 3 medicines proved to be independent predictive indicators of longer healing times (>100 days) of chronic skin ulcers of the lower limbs.
Conclusion. Our epidemiologic study shows that chronic skin ulcers take longer to heal in elderly patients who have poor physical or mental health and take several different medicines. Our data confirmed similar conclusions of other research studies, in which the comorbidity and functional status are important independent predictive risks of some clinical outcomes. (not in Italian).