Prevalence and Mortality of Venous Leg Diseases of the Deep Veins: An Observational Cohort Study Based on German Health Claims Data

Clinical Study of Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) for Lower Extremity Venous Ulcers: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

To systematically evaluate the clinical effects of platelet-rich plasma in the treatment of lower limb venous ulcers by applying a meta-analysis method. The Pubmed, Cochrance Library, Embase, and OVID EBM Reviews databases were searched for the search terms'platelet-rich plasma" or "Plasma, Platelet-Rich" or "Platelet Rich Plasma" and "lower extremity venous ulcers' or "Leg Ulcers' or "Ulcer, Leg", and a meta-analysis was performed on the published research literature on platelet-rich plasma for lower extremity venous ulcers from January 1900 to April 2021. The outcome indicators were: post-treatment trauma area and healing rate. Revman 5.3 statistical software was applied for meta-analysis. A total of 294 patients with lower extremity venous ulcers were included in six publications, including 148 patients in the experimental group treated with PRP versus 146 patients in the control group treated with conventional therapy. There was a statistically significant difference in the Formula of an ellipse at the end of treatment (CM²) between the experimental group and the control group, with a mean difference of -1.19 (95% CI -1.80 to -0.58, P = .0001; 6 studies, 294 participants moderate quality of evidence). The difference between the healing rate of the experimental group and the control group was statistically significant, with a risk ratio (RR) of 5.73 (95% CI 3.29 - 9.99, P < .00001; 5 studies, 248 participants moderate quality of evidence).There may be publication bias for both Formula of an ellipse at the end of treatment and healing rate. This comprehensive meta-analysis of available evidence suggests that the application of PRP for lower extremity venous ulcers accelerates the wound healing process and improves wound healing rates.

Identification of types of wound bed tissue as a percentage and total wound area by planimetry in neuropathic and venous ulcers

BACKGROUND

Neuropathic and venous leg ulcers are chronic wounds associated with devitalized tissue and recurrent infection. Management should be guided by accurate tissue assessment, including the use of planimetry, which provides tissue types as a percentage of the total wound bed surface area.

OBJECTIVE

This innovative study aimed to assess and identify the wound bed tissues, as a percentage, of neuropathic and venous ulcers using digital planimetry, providing support to nurses optimize the management of necrotic tissues and, consequently, to avoid wound infection.

METHODS

This cross-sectional study enrolled 24 patients with chronic wounds who were assessed from January to March 2021 at the Wound Outpatients Clinic. The wound photographs were analyzed using Image J 1.53e and a smartphone with WoundDoc Plus® 2.8.2 via digital planimetry. Statistical analyses were performed using the binomial test, t-test, and Mann-Whitney.

RESULTS

Median wound areas (p=0.3263) did not differ between the group with 2 or 3 risk factors for delayed healing (Md: 31.7) and the group with up to 1 risk factor (Md: 5.3). A low exudate level was associated with the up-to-1-risk-factor-for-delayed-healing group (p=0.0405), while a medium level was associated with the two-or-three-risk-factor group (p=0.0247). A heat map displayed the tissue percentages in the wound bed. In the group with 2 or 3 risk factors for delayed healing, 91.7% (11/12) had less than 70% granulation tissue, which was the primary factor for this group (p<0.0001). Additionally, 66.7% (8/12) of patients with 2 or 3 risk factors for delayed healing exhibited discolored and/or dark red granulation tissue as the primary factor (p=0.0130).

CONCLUSION

This novel identification of wound area and tissue types as a percentage, using digital planimetry, can play a crucial role in assisting nurses in decision-making related to the appropriate management of devitalized tissues. Furthermore, this measurements may facilitate the conducting of virtual wound consultations and offer valuable support in the development of protocols aimed at preventing infection and biofilm formation in the wound bed.

Prevalence and incidence of venous leg ulcers-A systematic review and meta-analysis

Venous leg ulcers (VLU) represent a major public health challenge. Little is known about the prevalence and incidence of VLU internationally. Published studies are usually reporting different estimates because of disparities in study designs and measurement methods. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review and meta-analysis to identify the prevalence and incidence of VLU internationally and to characterise the population as reported in these studies. Studies were identified from searches in Medline (PubMed), CINAHL Complete (EBSCOhost), Embase, Scopus, Web of Science, LiSSa (Littérature Scientifique en Santé), Google Scholar and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews up to November 2022. Studies were included if their primary outcomes were reported as a period prevalence or point prevalence or cumulative incidence or incidence VLU rate. Fourteen studies met the inclusion criteria, 10 reporting estimates of prevalence, three reporting both prevalence and incidence estimates and one incidence. All were included in meta-analyses. The results show a pooled prevalence of 0.32% and a pooled incidence of 0.17%. Our results highlighted an extreme heterogeneity across effect sizes for both prevalence and incidence, which prevent a meaningful interpretation of pooled indexes and argue for further studies with specific prevalence-type reported and target population under study.

Association between cardiac conditions with venous leg ulcers in patients with chronic venous insufficiency

INTRODUCTION

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are the final stage of chronic venous insufficiency. This study aims to characterize the association between cardiovascular diseases and VLU.

METHODS

A multicentric case-control study analyzed 17,788 patients between 2015 and 2020. Cases were matched (1:2) by age and sex, and odds ratios (OR) were analyzed with conditional logistic regressions adjusted by risk factors.

RESULTS

The prevalence of VLU was 15.2%. 2390 cases were analyzed. Diseases found to be associated with VLU were atrial fibrillation (OR, 1.21; 95% CI: 1.03-1.42), pulmonary hypertension (OR, 1.45; 95% CI: 1.06-2.00), right heart failure (OR, 1.27; 95% CI: 1.13-1.43), peripheral artery disease (OR, 2.21; 95% CI: 1.90-2.56), and history of pulmonary embolism (OR, 1.45; 95% CI: 1.06-2.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Certain cardiovascular conditions showed an association with VLU. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the effect that treating concomitant cardiovascular diseases might exert on the natural history of venous leg ulcers.

Impact of Educational Nursing Intervention on Compression Therapy Adherence and Recurrence of Venous Leg Ulcers: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Following the healing of venous leg ulcers, the primary problems for nursing and patients are adhering to compression therapy and preventing ulcer recurrence. As a result, it is important that patients comprehend their situation. The purpose of this study is to see how an educational nursing intervention affected compression therapy adherence and recurrence of venous leg ulcers in patients with chronic venous leg ulcers. A quasi-experimental design was used, including an intervention, a control group, and before and after assessments. This study was conducted in one of Egypt's largest teaching hospitals associated with Menoufia University. The 20-month study included 80 adult patients with healed venous leg ulcers. Each participant was randomized to either a control (got regular leg ulcer information) or study (received educational interventions) group. The following tools were used in the study: bio-sociodemographic variables, knowledge evaluation, compression therapy adherence scale, and recurrence follow-up, after 3, 6, and 12 months of implementation. Furthermore, there is a statistically significant difference between the study groups during the pretest (r = 0.885, 0.774, and 0.477, p = 0.002). The use of nursing education increased patients' understanding and adherence to compression treatment substantially. As a consequence, those with chronic venous leg ulcers may be able to avoid recurrent venous leg ulcers.

Validity of Chronic Venous Disease Diagnoses and Epidemiology Using Validated Electronic Health Records From Primary Care: A Real-World Data Analysis

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the validity of lower limb chronic venous disease (CVD) diagnoses entered in a large electronic health record database in primary care in Catalonia, Spain; to investigate the reliability of these data for research purposes; and to estimate the prevalence and incidence of CVD, chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), and venous leg ulcer (VLU).

DESIGN

Real-world data analysis based on a large electronic health record database in primary care in Catalonia, Spain.

METHODS

We used a primary care research database (Information System for the Development of Research in Primary Care [SIDIAP]), which contains anonymous data on some 5.8 million people from 279 primary care centers, accounting for more than 80% of the Catalonian population and 15% of the Spanish population. We evaluated the validity of the ICD-10 codes for CVD in SIDIAP for 200 adult patients through the responses of 20 primary care physicians to a questionnaire.

FINDINGS

The positive predictive value of CVD in SIDIAP was 89.95% (95% confidence interval [CI] 84.99-93.40). The prevalence rates for CVD, CVI, and VLU were 9.54% (95% CI 9.51-9.56), 3.87%, and 0.33%, respectively. The incidence rates for CVD, CVI, and VLU were 7.91/1,000 person-years (95% CI 7.82-8.00), 3.37/1,000 person-years (95% CI 3.31-3.43), and 0.23/1,000 person-years (95% CI 0.21-0.24), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The Catalonian SIDIAP database contains valid CVD diagnoses. The prevalence and incidence rates found using real-world data are low compared with those in the literature, possibly because CVD is an underdiagnosed entity.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Real-world data can inform clinicians on lower limb venous health in a population, show changes as individuals age, and reveal aspects where healthcare can be improved.

Experiences of Venous Leg Ulcer persons following an individualised nurse-led education: protocol for a qualitative study using a constructivist grounded theory approach

INTRODUCTION

Venous leg ulcers are slow-healing wounds with a high risk of recurrences. To prevent recurrences and promote healing, different nurse-led educational interventions have been developed. The impact of these interventions on self-management is ambiguous. Also, how persons with a venous leg ulcer experiences these educational sessions are poorly described.

AIM

This study protocol presents the methodology to provide a comprehensive explanation of participants' journeys-of how they experience their individualised education sessions concerning self-management.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

A constructivist grounded theory approach according to Charmaz involving 30 participants will be used. Data will be collected through semistructured face-to-face interviews. Interviews will be transcribed verbatim and analysed with initial and focus coding using MAXQDA. Data collection and data analysis will occur iteratively, focusing on constant comparison to obtain well-developed categories. Categories will be reinforced using existent literature.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This pre-results study is embedded in a clinical trial (NCT04019340) and approved by ethical committee of the canton of Geneva (CCER: 2019-01964). A theory will emerge from participants' journeys informing future education sessions for patients with venous leg ulcers. The findings will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications and communications.