An estimate of the economic burden of venous leg ulcers associated with deep venous obstruction

Review of the literature supporting international clinical practice guidelines on iliac venous stenting and their applicability to Australia and New Zealand practice

BACKGROUND

The overall goal of this report is to provide a high-level, practical approach to managing venous outflow obstruction (VOO).

METHODS

A group of vascular surgeons from Australia and New Zealand with specific interest, training, and experience in the management of VOO were surveyed to assess current local practices. The results were analyzed and areas of disagreement identified. After this, the group performed a literature review of consensus guidelines published by leading international organizations focused on the management of chronic venous disease, namely, the Society for Vascular Surgery, American Venous Forum, European Society for Vascular Surgery, American Vein and Lymphatic Society, Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe, and American Heart Association. These guidelines were compared against the consensus statements obtained through the surveys to determine how they relate to Australian and New Zealand practice. In addition, selected key studies, reviews, and meta-analyses on venous stenting were discussed and added to the document. A selection of statements with >75% agreement was voted on, and barriers to the guideline's applicability were identified. The final recommendations were further reviewed and endorsed by another group of venous experts.

RESULTS

The document addresses two key areas: patient selection and technical aspects of venous stenting. Regarding patient selection, patients with clinically relevant VOO, a Clinical-Etiologic-Anatomic-Physiologic score of ≥3 or a Venous Clinical Severity Score for pain of ≥2, or both, including venous claudication, with evidence of >50% stenosis should be considered for venous stenting (Level of Recommendation Ib). Patients with chronic pelvic pain, deep dyspareunia, postcoital pain affecting their quality of life, when other causes have been ruled out, should also be considered for venous stenting (Level of Recommendation Ic). Asymptomatic patients should not be offered venous stenting (Level of Recommendation IIIc). Patients undergoing thrombus removal for acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, in whom a culprit stenotic lesion of >50% has been uncovered, should be considered for venous stenting (Level of Recommendation Ib).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with VOO have been underdiagnosed and undertreated for decades; however, in recent years, interest from physicians and industry has grown substantially. International guidelines aimed at developing standards of care to avoid undertreating and overtreating patients are applicable to Australia and New Zealand practice and will serve as an educational platform for future developments.

Advancing nursing practice in Ireland: A pathway of care for nurse-led integrated venous leg ulcer management

Approximately 80% of patients presenting with leg ulcers are venous in origin. However, lack of standardisation of care has a human and financial impact for patients and service providers. Increases in the aging population and number of patients entering older age with co-morbidities results in increases in the demand for venous leg ulcer treatments. A joint initiative between a Registered Advanced Nurse Practitioner (RANP) in tissue viability and wound care, and a vascular consultant, identified deficits in patient care delivery and quality of life. A joint initiative Implementing the principles of the 'Sláintecare' policy was established as the Leg Ulcer Centre Ireland (LUCI) to deliver a pathway for the treatment and management of lower limb venous ulcers. The RANP provides a "one stop shop" for patients, offering a complete care package from diagnosis to surgical intervention - endovenous ablation, follow-up post operative care and discharge. Audit findings include; reduced hospital admissions and waiting times; increased patient satisfaction; and, improved interdisciplinary integrated referral pathways. The RANP offers an effective, efficient diagnosis-to-end treatment service for patients. The results demonstrate improved treatment, cost outcomes and value-based outcomes for patients. The new integrated service facilitates expansion of the service and further enhancement of the nursing skills and role.

The clinical and economic impact of chronic venous insufficiency-associated lymphedema and the prevalence of persistent edema after venous intervention

OBJECTIVES

To determine the demographics, outcomes, and healthcare utilization of patients with chronic venous insufficiency-associated lymphedema (CVI-LED) and the prevalence of lymphedema-specific therapy use after venous intervention.

METHODS

The IBM MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Claims Databases were examined for patients with CVI-LED. Patient demographics and the use of lymphedema-specific therapy before and after venous intervention were collected.

RESULTS

Of 85,601 LED patients identified, 8,406 also had a diagnosis of CVI. In the CVI-LED group, 1051 underwent endovenous ablation or venous stent placement. The use of lymphedema-specific therapy before and after venous intervention was 52% and 39%, respectively (p < .05). The mean time of initiation of LED-specific therapy following venous intervention was 265 days after ablation and 347 days after stent placement.

CONCLUSION

Treating venous hypertension improves certain venous-related signs and symptoms of CVI. However, a significant proportion of patients have persistent edema which may reflect underlying, sub-optimally treated LED.

Three-Year Outcomes of the Abre Venous Self-Expanding Stent System in Patients with Symptomatic Iliofemoral Venous Outflow Obstruction

PURPOSE

To report 36-month outcomes and subgroup analysis of the ABRE study evaluating the safety and effectiveness of the Abre venous self-expanding stent system for the treatment of symptomatic iliofemoral venous outflow obstruction disease.

METHODS

The ABRE study was a prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized study that enrolled and implanted Abre venous stents in 200 participants (mean age 51.5 years [SD ± 15.9], 66.5% women) with symptomatic iliofemoral venous outflow obstruction at 24 global sites. Outcomes assessed through 36 months included patency, major adverse events, stent migration, stent fracture, and quality-of-life changes. Adverse events and imaging studies were adjudicated by independent clinical events committee and core laboratories, respectively.

RESULTS

Primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency through 36 months by Kaplan-Meier estimates were 81.6%, 84.8%, and 86.3%, respectively. The cumulative incidence of major adverse events through 36 months was 10.2%, mainly driven by 12 thrombosis events. Subgroup analyses demonstrated a primary patency of 76.5% in the acute deep vein thrombosis group, 70.4% in the postthrombotic syndrome group, and 97.1% in the nonthrombotic iliac vein lesion group through 36 months. The overall mean lesion length was 112.4 mm (SD ± 66.1). There were no stent fractures or migrations in this study. Quality of life and venous functional assessments demonstrated significant improvements from baseline to 36 months across all patient subsets.

CONCLUSIONS

Results from the ABRE study demonstrated sustained patency with a good safety profile after implantation of a dedicated venous stent in patients with symptomatic iliofemoral venous outflow obstruction disease.

Clinical evidence and rationale of mesoglycan to treat chronic venous disease and hemorrhoidal disease: a narrative review

Chronic venous disease (CVD) and hemorrhoidal disease (HD) are among the most common vascular diseases in the world, with CVD affecting 22-41% of the population in Europe and HD having a point prevalence of 11-39%. The burden is substantial in terms of the effect of symptoms on patients' health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and direct/indirect medical costs. Treatment begins with lifestyle changes, compression in CVD and topical therapies in HD, and escalates as needed through oral therapies first and eventually to surgery for severe disease. CVD and HD share etiological features and pathological changes affecting the structure and function of the tissue extracellular matrix. Mesoglycan, a natural glycosaminoglycan (GAG) preparation composed primarily of heparan sulfate and dermatan sulfate, has been demonstrated to positively impact the underlying causes of CVD and HD, regenerating the glycocalyx and restoring endothelial function, in addition to having antithrombotic, profibrinolytic, anti-inflammatory, antiedema and wound-healing effects. In clinical trials, oral mesoglycan reduced the severity of CVD signs and symptoms, improved HRQoL, and accelerated ulcer healing. In patients with HD, mesoglycan significantly reduced the severity of signs and symptoms and the risk of rectal bleeding. In patients undergoing excisional hemorrhoidectomy, adding mesoglycan to standard postoperative care reduced pain, improved HRQoL, reduced incidence of thrombosis, and facilitated an earlier return to normal activities/work, compared with standard postoperative care alone. The clinical effects of mesoglycan in patients with CVD or HD are consistent with the agent's known mechanisms of action.

Investigating low rates of compliance to graduated compression therapy for chronic venous insufficiency: A systematic review

Chronic venous insufficiency (CVI) is a chronic lower limb progressive disorder with significant burden. Graduated compression therapy is the gold-standard treatment, but its underutilisation, as indicated in recent literature, may be contributing to the growing burden of CVI. The aim of this systematic review is to determine the reasons for poor compliance in patients who are prescribed graduated compression therapy in the management of chronic venous insufficiency. A systematic review of the literature was conducted to identify the reasons for non-compliance in wearing graduated compression therapy in the management of chronic venous insufficiency. The keyword search was conducted through Medline, PubMed, CINAHL, Cochrane library, AMED, and Embase databases from 2000 to April 2023. Qualitative and quantitative studies were included with no study design or language limits imposed on the search. The study populations were restricted to adults aged over 18 years, diagnosed with chronic venous insufficiency. Of the 856 studies found, 80 full-text articles were reviewed, with 14 being eligible for the review. Due to the variability in study designs, the results were summarised rather than subjected to meta-analysis. There are five main overarching themes for non-compliance, which are physical limitations, health literacy, discomfort, financial issues, and psychosocial issues with emerging sub-themes. Graduated compression therapy has the potential to reduce the burden of chronic venous insufficiency if patients are more compliant with their prescription.

Impact of COVID-19 on patients undergoing scheduled procedures for chronic venous disease

OBJECTIVE

The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically altered the medical landscape. Various strategies have been employed to preserve hospital beds, personal protective equipment, and other resources to accommodate the surges of COVID-19 positive patients, hospital overcapacities, and staffing shortages. This has had a dramatic effect on vascular surgical practice. The objective of this study is to analyze the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on surgical delays and adverse outcomes for patients with chronic venous disease scheduled to undergo elective operations.

METHODS

The Vascular Surgery COVID-19 Collaborative (VASCC) was founded in March 2020 to evaluate the outcomes of patients with vascular disease whose operations were delayed. Modules were developed by vascular surgeon working groups and tested before implementation. A data analysis of outcomes of patients with chronic venous disease whose surgeries were postponed during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 2020 through February 2021 was performed for this study.

RESULTS

A total of 150 patients from 12 institutions in the United States were included in the study. Indications for venous intervention were: 85.3% varicose veins, 10.7% varicose veins with venous ulceration, and 4.0% lipodermatosclerosis. One hundred two surgeries had successfully been completed at the time of data entry. The average length of the delay was 91 days, with a median of 78 days. Delays for venous ulceration procedures ranged from 38 to 208 days. No patients required an emergent intervention due to their venous disease, and no patients experienced major adverse events following their delayed surgeries.

CONCLUSIONS

Interventions may be safely delayed for patients with venous disease requiring elective surgical intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic. This finding supports the American College of Surgeons' recommendations for the management of elective vascular surgical procedures. Office-based labs may be safe locations for continued treatment when resources are limited. Although the interventions can be safely postponed, the negative impact on quality of life warrants further investigation.

Pharmacomechanical thrombectomy of iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis is associated with a low incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome and perioperative complications

BACKGROUND

Iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis (IFDVT) is associated with an incidence of post-thrombotic syndrome (PTS) of up to 50%. PTS is associated with high morbidity, impaired quality of life and a significant economic burden. The aim of the current study was to assess the impact of a single session pharmacomechanical thrombectomy (PMT), dedicated venous stents and a risk mitigation protocol on the rate of PTS.

METHODS

Between 2015 and 2022, patients presenting with acute or subacute IFDVT treated with the same protocol of single session PMT, dedicated venous stents, and risk-mitigation measures were included. Procedural success rate, complications, stent patency and incidence of PTS were determined.

RESULTS

Of 60 patients (58 ± 19 years; 65% male), the procedural success rate was 93%, with 7% of patients experiencing complications but no long-term sequelae or mortality. Most (n = 52; 87%) patients were stented, including 46% across the inguinal ligament. At 3 months post-procedure, primary, assisted primary and secondary stent patency rates were 89%, 93% and 98%, respectively, with no loss of patency or re-interventions after that. At latest follow-up of a median 48 months (n = 32), stent patency rate was 97%, with only three patients (9%) experiencing symptoms of PTS.

CONCLUSION

Single session PMT, dedicated venous stents and a risk-mitigation protocol results in high success rate, excellent long-term stent patency and low incidence of PTS without compromising safety. These results support early intervention for iliofemoral DVT.

Concerning Trends in Vascular Surgery Trainee Operative Experience in Venous Disease

BACKGROUND

Comprehensive vascular care includes both arterial and venous disease management. However, operative training in venous disease is often significantly overshadowed by arterial procedures, despite the public health burden of acute and chronic venous disease. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the case-mix and volume of venous procedures performed by graduating integrated vascular surgery residents and fellows in the United States.

METHODS

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education national operative log reports were compiled for graduating integrated VSR (vascular surgery residency) and traditional vascular surgery fellowship (VSF) trainees from academic years 2013 to 2022. Only cases categorized as "surgeon fellow", "surgeon chief", or "surgeon junior" were included. Linear regression analysis was utilized to evaluate trends in case-mix and volume.

RESULTS

Over the 10-year study period, total vascular cases increased for both VSR (mean 870.5 ± 9.3 cases, annual change +9.5 cases/year, R2 = 0.77, P < 0.001) and VSF (mean 682.1 ± 6.9 cases, annual change +6.7 cases/year, R2 = 0.85, P < 0.001) trainees. Concurrently, the proportion of venous cases in the VSR group decreased from 12.5% to 7.3% (annual change -3.7 cases/year, R2 = 0.72, P < 0.001). VSR trainees experienced an annual decrease in 4 of the top 5 venous case types performed, including venous angioplasty/stenting (-1.6 cases/year, P = 0.002), vena cava filter placement (-0.9 cases/year, P = 0.002), endoluminal ablation (-0.2 cases/year, P = 0.47), diagnostic venography (-1.7 cases/year, P < 0.001), and varicose vein treatment (-1.0 cases/year, P < 0.001). Venous cases proportions also decreased in the VSF group from 8.4% to 6.2% (annual change -2.2 cases/year, R2 = 0.54, P = 0.002). VSF trainees experienced an annual decrease in 4 of the top 5 venous case types, including venous angioplasty/stenting (-1.5 cases/year, P = 0.003), diagnostic venography (-1.2 cases/year, P < 0.001), vena cava filter placement (-0.2 cases/year, P = 0.44), endoluminal ablation (-0.6 cases/year, P < 0.001), and varicose vein treatment (-0.1 cases/year, P = 0.04). Both VSR and VSF trainee groups graduated with fewer than 5 cases for each of the following venous procedures-percutaneous mechanical thrombectomy, venous thrombolysis, open venous reconstruction, sclerotherapy, venous embolectomy, portal-systemic shunting, venous ulceration treatment, and arteriovenous malformation treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Current vascular residents and fellows have limited exposure to venous procedures, in part due to a proportional decline in venous cases. More robust venous operative experience is needed during surgical training. Further studies are needed to understand whether this discrepancy in venous and arterial training impacts career progression and patient outcomes.

Effects of photodynamic therapy in patients with infected skin ulcers: A meta-analysis

The purpose of the meta-analysis was to evaluate and compare the photodynamic therapy's effectiveness in treating infected skin wounds. The results of this meta-analysis were analysed, and the odds ratio (OR) and mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using dichotomous or contentious random- or fixed-effect models. For the current meta-analysis, 6 examinations spanning from 2013 to 2021 were included, encompassing 154 patients with infected skin wounds were the used studies' starting point. Photodynamic therapy had a significantly lower wound ulcer size (MD, -4.42; 95% CI, -7.56--1.28, p = 0.006), better tissue repair (MD, -8.62; 95% CI, -16.76--0.48, p = 0.04) and lower microbial cell viability (OR, 0.13; 95% CI, 0.04-0.42, p < 0.001) compared with red light exposure in subjects with infected skin wounds. The examined data revealed that photodynamic therapy had a significantly lower wound ulcer size, better tissue repair and lower microbial cell viability compared with red light exposure in subjects with infected skin wounds. However, given that all examinations had a small sample size, consideration should be given to their values.

2024 Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics: A Report of US and Global Data From the American Heart Association

BACKGROUND

The American Heart Association (AHA), in conjunction with the National Institutes of Health, annually reports the most up-to-date statistics related to heart disease, stroke, and cardiovascular risk factors, including core health behaviors (smoking, physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and obesity) and health factors (cholesterol, blood pressure, glucose control, and metabolic syndrome) that contribute to cardiovascular health. The AHA Heart Disease and Stroke Statistical Update presents the latest data on a range of major clinical heart and circulatory disease conditions (including stroke, brain health, complications of pregnancy, kidney disease, congenital heart disease, rhythm disorders, sudden cardiac arrest, subclinical atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, valvular disease, venous thromboembolism, and peripheral artery disease) and the associated outcomes (including quality of care, procedures, and economic costs).

METHODS

The AHA, through its Epidemiology and Prevention Statistics Committee, continuously monitors and evaluates sources of data on heart disease and stroke in the United States and globally to provide the most current information available in the annual Statistical Update with review of published literature through the year before writing. The 2024 AHA Statistical Update is the product of a full year's worth of effort in 2023 by dedicated volunteer clinicians and scientists, committed government professionals, and AHA staff members. The AHA strives to further understand and help heal health problems inflicted by structural racism, a public health crisis that can significantly damage physical and mental health and perpetuate disparities in access to health care, education, income, housing, and several other factors vital to healthy lives. This year's edition includes additional global data, as well as data on the monitoring and benefits of cardiovascular health in the population, with an enhanced focus on health equity across several key domains.

RESULTS

Each of the chapters in the Statistical Update focuses on a different topic related to heart disease and stroke statistics.

CONCLUSIONS

The Statistical Update represents a critical resource for the lay public, policymakers, media professionals, clinicians, health care administrators, researchers, health advocates, and others seeking the best available data on these factors and conditions.

A Novel Comprehensive Therapeutic Approach to the Challenges of Chronic Wounds: A Brief Review and Clinical Experience Report

Following the clinical perspective and concept that a healthy body will not develop chronic wounds, the central approach for the treatment described here is based on an understanding of how the body transforms the wound microenvironment from a non-healing to a healing state. As part of a comprehensive treatment regimen that includes OCM™ (complete matrix), wound preparation, and skin protectant formulations, the OCM contains components for complete wound healing by attending to the individual needs required to promote the closure of each unique chronic wound. During application of the comprehensive treatment regimen in independent investigator-led trials, the total wound percentage average reduction over the first 4 weeks of treatment was 60% across multiple wound types; median time to total wound closure was 6.9 weeks. Safety testing of the OCM formulation shows no potential allergenicity, no potential sensitization, and no known product-related adverse events. Clinical trials evaluating the OCM formulation as part of the comprehensive treatment regimen of multiple wound types are underway. Results of clinical trials and real-world experiences will expand current knowledge of the wound-healing potential of this novel product.

Human Wound and Its Burden: Updated 2022 Compendium of Estimates

Significance: Chronic wounds affect 10.5 million (up 2.3 million from the 2014 update) of U.S. Medicare beneficiaries. Chronic wounds impact the quality of life of nearly 2.5% of the total population of the United States. This fraction is larger in the elderly. These wounds can lead to a range of complications and health care costs. Given the aging population, the continued threat of diabetes and obesity worldwide, and the persistent problem of infection, it is expected that chronic wounds will continue to be a substantial clinical, social, and economic challenge. Disparities in the prevalence and management of chronic wounds exist, with underserved communities and marginalized populations often facing greater challenges in accessing quality wound care. These disparities exacerbate the public health burden. Recent Advances: U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had proposed revision of its local coverage determination limiting the use of skin substitute grafts/cellular and/or tissue-based products for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers in the U.S. Medicare population. In response to the comment phase, this proposal has been put on hold. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has renewed its focus on addressing nonhealing chronic wounds and has outlined efforts to address identified barriers to product development for nonhealing chronic wounds. The new approach places emphasis on engaging key wound healing stakeholders, including academia, professional associations, patient groups, reimbursement organizations, and industry. Finally, recent advances demonstrating that wounds closed by current FDA definition of wound closure may remain functionally open because of deficiencies in restoration of barrier function warrant revisiting the wound closure endpoint. Such "closed" wounds that are functionally open, also known as invisible wounds, are likely to be associated with high wound recurrence. Future Directions: Addressing the public health problem of chronic wounds will require a multifaceted approach that includes prevention, improved wound care management, and addressing the underlying risk factors.

A robotic venous leg ulcer system reveals the benefits of negative pressure wound therapy in effective fluid handling

We applied a market-leading, single-use negative pressure wound therapy device to a robotic venous leg ulcer system and compared its fluid handling performance with that of standard of care, superabsorbent and foam dressings and compression therapy. For each tested product, we determined a metrics of retained, residual, evaporated and (potential) leaked fluid shares, for three exudate flow regimes representing different possible clinically relevant scenarios. The single-use negative pressure wound therapy system under investigation emerged as the leading treatment option in the aspects of adequate fluid handling and consistent delivery of therapeutic-level wound-bed pressures. The superabsorbent dressing performed reasonably in fluid handling (resulting in some pooling but no leakage), however, it quickly caused excessive wound-bed pressures due to swelling, after less than a day of simulated use. The foam dressing exhibited the poorest fluid handling performance, that is, pooling in the wound-bed as well as occasional leakage, indicating potential inflammation and peri-wound skin maceration risks under real-world clinical use conditions. These laboratory findings highlight the importance of advanced robotic technology as contemporary means to simulate patient and wound behaviours and inform selection of wound care technologies and products, in ways that are impossible to achieve if relying solely on clinical trials and experience.

Impact of lymphedema in the management of venous leg ulcers

INTRODUCTION

Lymphedema (LED) in patients with venous leg ulcers (VLU) [VLU+LED] can impair ulcer healing and predispose to cellulitis. There is little data, however, demonstrating how lymphatic dysfunction may impact the clinical course, treatment, and healthcare expenditures for VLU+LED versus VLU-LED patients.

OBJECTIVE

To determine how lymphatic dysfunction might influence treatment and expenditures among VLU patients in a large deidentified healthcare claims database.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort design and data from the IBM MarketScan Database (April 2013 to March 2019) were employed. Study population comprised VLU patients, and was stratified into two subgroups: VLU+LED (index date = date of first LED diagnosis) and VLU-LED (index dates randomly assigned to match distribution of index dates for VLU+LED). Within each subgroup, patients with <1 year of healthcare claims information before and after their index dates were excluded. Demographics, comorbidities, procedures/treatments, as well as all-cause post-index medical resource utilization and expenditures ($/patient/year) of the two groups were compared. Stabilized inverse probability treatment weights (IPTWs) were employed to adjust for differences between groups in baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

A total of 5466 VLU patients were identified (VLU+LED: N = 299; VLU-LED: N = 5167). Overall ambulatory encounters (AMB ENC) and their components were higher in VLU+LED, which were reflected in increased expenditures for this group (Table 1). Treatment with endovenous ablation (EVA) or stenting for venous hypertension as well as for specific measures for LED were higher in the 1-year post-index period for VLU+LED. The use of LED specific therapy was low for both groups, but a greater percentage of VLU+LED patients received therapy, which was predominantly manual lymphatic drainage (17.4%) rather than pneumatic compression (10.7%).

CONCLUSIONS

The clinical presence of LED in patients with VLU is a marker for a more complex disease process with more episodes of cellulitis and expenditures, but a surprisingly low specific treatment for LED.

No More Venous Ulcers-What More Can We Do?

Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are the most severe complication caused by the progression of chronic venous insufficiency. They account for approximately 70-90% of all chronic leg ulcers (CLUs). A total of 1% of the Western population will suffer at some time in their lives from a VLU. Furthermore, most CLUs are VLUs, defined as chronic leg wounds that show no tendency to heal after three months of appropriate treatment or are still not fully healed at 12 months. The essential feature of VLUs is their recurrence. VLUs also significantly impact quality of life and could cause social isolation and depression. They also have a significant avoidable economic burden. It is estimated that the treatment of venous ulceration accounts for around 3% of the total expenditure on healthcare. A VLU-free world is a highly desirable aim but could be challenging to achieve with the current knowledge of the pathophysiology and diagnostic and therapeutical protocols. To decrease the incidence of VLUs, the long-term goal must be to identify high-risk patients at an early stage of chronic venous disease and initiate appropriate preventive measures. This review discusses the epidemiology, socioeconomic burden, pathophysiology, diagnosis, modes of conservative and invasive treatment, and prevention of VLUs.

Health Economic Analysis of Two-Layer Bandage System for Treatment of Chronic Venous Insufficiency

Background: Compression therapy is the gold standard for the treatment of chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). Two-layer bandage (2LB) systems have been shown to be a safe and effective treatment option. Objective: To estimate the total cost per response (CPR) for the resolution of edema and wounds in patients with CVI treated with a 2LB system as part of their overall wound healing regimen. Methods: A probabilistic decision tree model was developed to estimate the incremental CPR for a 2LB system. The model simulated 10 000 patients to estimate the CPR for the resolution of edema and wound healing. The analysis was performed using clinical data from a published single-arm, multicenter prospective study of CVI indicated for compression therapy. The response outcomes of interest were resolution of edema and rate of wound healing. The follow-up time was a maximum of 6 weeks, and the perspective of the study was a US outpatient treatment center. Economic data for compression therapy were based on the public prices of a 2LB system. Dressing changes occurred per manufacturer instructions for use. Results: The study comprised 702 patients (56% female), with a total of 414 wounds. The median duration of the wounds was 42 days, and the median size at the initial visit was 3.5 cm2. The average pain reduction fell by 67% using a visual analog score. Bandages were typically changed once or twice a week (51.7%). Wound healing occurred in 128 of the 414 wounds (30.9%). The expected incremental CPR of a 2LB system for the resolution of edema was $65.67 (range, $16.67-$124.32). The expected incremental CPR of a 2LB system for the healing of a wound was $138.71 (range, $35.71-$273.53). Conclusion: This economic evaluation complements previous clinical effectiveness and safety studies of 2LB systems for the treatment of CVI. The results demonstrate that the costs of incorporating 2LB into standard wound-healing protocols are negligible compared with overall treatment costs. Two-layer bandages may be considered a cost-effective first-line system for the treatment of wounds caused by CVI.

Influence of pain on the quality of life in patients with venous ulcers: Cross-sectional association and correlation study in a brazilian primary health care lesions treatment center

We aimed to verify the association and correlation between pain and QoL in people with VU treated in a Brazilian Primary Health Care (PHC) lesions treatment center. This is an observational, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, carried out in a service specialized in the treatment of chronic injuries, linked to 29 PHC units. Sociodemographic and health characterization instruments were used. The Short Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36) and Visual Analogue Pain Scale (VAPS) also were used. The Kruskal-Wallis test verified the association between the scalar variables of QoL and pain intensity. With Spearman's correlation test, we verified the level of correlation between the scales applied. A total of 103 patients participated in the study. Higher QoL scores associated with moderate pain were found, especially in the Physical role functioning, Physical functioning, and Vitality domains. Correlation analysis showed its greatest (moderate) strength in the interaction between the highest scores in the Physical role functioning and Emotional role functioning domains with the lowest pain levels.

Chronic Venous Disease and Its Intersections With Diabetes Mellitus

Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a vascular disorder in which blood return is severely compromised and CVD is usually characterized by venous hypertension. Along with obesity and diabetes mellitus, CVD is one of the most common civilization diseases. In general, the estimated prevalence of CVD ranges from 60-80 %. Early diagnosis and adequate treatment are important for preventing progression to more severe stages of the disease like venous leg ulcers. Clinical manifestations of CVD in initial stages of the disease are often asymptomatic. However, as CVD progresses, symptoms begin to develop. Treatment of CVD could be divided into conservative and surgical. Conservative therapy consists of compression, pharmacological treatment and lifestyle change. In cases where conservative therapy is ineffective, surgical or endovascular treatment may be required. The intersections between diabetes mellitus (DM) and CVD are not to be underestimated. CVD and DM have often the same risk factors. Symptoms of CVD can be modified by late complications of DM, but the incidence of different CVD degrees seems to be the same as in diabetics as in non-diabetics population. We are particularly concerned in diabetics about worse compliance with treatment due to their often-poorer adherence to treatment of DM and lifestyle changes. Moreover, there exist a higher risk of CVD and peripheral arterial disease in diabetics patients. Patients with CVD should always be inspected for the presence of DM, considering its presence can have a bearing on CVD symptoms, diagnostic procedures, and therapeutic strategies.

Ciprofloxacin-Loaded Polyvinylpyrrolidone Foils for the Topical Treatment of Wound Infections with Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Bacterial infections are a constant challenge in the management of acute and chronic wounds. Chronic wounds, such as diabetic foot ulcers, have increased significantly in the last few years due to the rise of an aging population. A better understanding of the infectious pathophysiological mechanisms is urgently needed along with new options for the treatment of wound infections and wound-healing disorders. New advances in the preparation of biocompatible dressing materials that can be loaded with antimicrobial drugs may improve the topical treatment of infected wounds. In this study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) foils loaded with ciprofloxacin (Cipro-foils) in the presence of acetic acid as a co-solvent. We used ex vivo human wounds that were infected with two bacterial strains: methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PAO1). The effectiveness of the treatment was demonstrated by the quantification of the living bacteria extracted from the wound and the detection of released immunological mediators in skin extracts and in the skin culture media. We found that Cipro-foils effectively treated the infection with both PAO1 and MRSA. Other than PAO1, MRSA had no lytic activity toward skin proteins. MRSA infections increased cytokines' expression and release. Interestingly, treatment with Cipro-foils could partially counteract these effects.

RETRACTED: Australian and New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery clinical practice guidelines on venous outflow Obstruction of the femoral-iliocaval veins

BACKGROUND

The overall goal of this report is to provide a high-level, practical approach to managing venous outflow obstruction (VOO) in Australia and New Zealand.

METHODS

A group of vascular surgeons from the Australian and New Zealand Society for Vascular Surgery with specific interest, training, and experience in the management of VOO were surveyed to assess current local practice. The results were analyzed and areas of disagreement identified. Following this, the group performed a literature review of consensus guidelines published by leading international organizations focused on the management of chronic venous disease, namely the Society for Vascular Surgery, American Venous Forum, European Society for Vascular Surgery, American Vein and Lymphatic Society, Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiology Society of Europe, and American Heart Association. These guidelines were compared against the consensus statements obtained through the surveys to determine how they relate to Australian and New Zealand practice. In addition, selected key studies, reviews, and meta-analyses on venous stenting were discussed and added to the document. Finally, a selection of statements with >75% agreement was voted on, and barriers to the guideline's applicability were identified.

RESULTS

The document addresses two key areas: patient selection and technical aspects of venous stenting. Regarding patient selection, patients with a CEAP (Clinical-Etiologic-Anatomic-Physiologic) score of ≥3 or a venous clinical severity score for pain of ≥2, or both, and evidence of >50% stenosis on venography, computed tomography venography, magnetic resonance venography, and/or intravascular ultrasound should be considered for venous stenting (level of recommendation Ib) Patients undergoing thrombus removal for acute iliofemoral deep vein thrombosis, in whom a culprit stenotic lesion has been uncovered, should be considered for venous stenting (level of recommendation Ib). Patients with chronic pelvic pain, deep dyspareunia, postcoital pain affecting their quality of life, when other causes have been ruled out, should be considered for venous stenting (level of recommendation Ic). Asymptomatic patients should not be offered venous stenting (level of recommendation IIIc).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with deep VOO have been underdiagnosed and undertreated for decades; however, in recent years, interest from physicians and industry has grown substantially. The advent of simpler and safer treatment options has revolutionized its management, but, unfortunately, formal training for venous disease has not grown at the same rate. Simplifying the technology and training required can result in inconsistent outcomes. These guidelines are aimed at developing standards of care and will serve as an educational platform for future developments.

Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing for Capturing the Complexity of Healthcare Processes: The Case of Deep Vein Thrombosis and Leg Ulcers

Time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC) is suggested to assess costs within the value-based healthcare approach, but there is a paucity of applications in chronic diseases such as deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and leg ulcers. In this context, we applied TDABC in a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing venous stenting to compression ± anticoagulation (standard of care-SOC) from both hospital and societal perspectives in Italy. TDABC was applied to both treatments to assess costs that were included in a cost-effectiveness model. Clinical inputs were retrieved from the literature and integrated with real-world data. The Incremental Cost Utility Ratio (ICUR) of stenting compared to SOC was EUR 10,270/QALY and EUR 8962/QALY for hospital and societal perspectives, respectively. The mean cost per patient for venous stenting of EUR 5082 was higher than the Diagnosis-Related Group (DRG) reimbursement (EUR 4742). For SOC, an ulcer healing in 3 months costs EUR 1892, of which EUR 302 (16%) is borne by the patient versus a reimbursement of EUR 1132. TDABC showed that venous stenting may be cost-effective compared with SOC but that reimbursement rates may not completely cover the real costs, which are partially sustained by the patients. A more efficient policy for covering the real costs may be beneficial for both clinical centers and patients.

The biological and physiological impact of the performance of wound dressings

Chronic wounds affect millions globally and are a huge financial burden. Whilst there are many wound dressings commercially available to manage these wounds, the complexity of the repair process makes it difficult to select the right dressing for the right wound at the right time. Thus, in this narrative review, we have examined reasons why wounds fail to heal, summarised the pathophysiology of the chronic wound environment and provided an evidence-based, clinically-relevant compilation of the published literature relevant to dressing design and evaluation. This has highlighted the need for a deeper understanding of wound exudates, how exudates change throughout the healing process, and how they are impacted by different dressing materials. Studies assessing biochemical and biophysical changes in exudates throughout the healing process are extremely valuable in this regard, enhancing both our understanding of the wound healing process and the ability to assess dressing performance. In addition, this knowledge allows us to replicate various wound conditions in the laboratory, and develop clinically-relevant models for testing current and new dressings, therefore providing a more comprehensive understanding of how and when they should be used. This approach makes the use of dressings more effective, thereby improving outcomes, and reducing the economic burden of chronic wounds.

Venous, Arterial, and Neuropathic Leg Ulcers With Emphasis on the Geriatric Population

Leg ulcers are a common and often serious problem in older adults. Underlying conditions that increase risk include age-related increases in chronic venous insufficiency, peripheral artery disease, connective tissue and autoimmune conditions, reduced mobility, and diabetes mellitus (DM). Geriatric patients have a higher risk of multiple wound-related complications including infection, cellulitis, ischemia, and gangrene, any of which may lead to further complications including amputation. The very presence of these lower extremity ulcers in the elderly negatively impacts their quality of life and ability to function. Understanding and early identification of the underlying conditions and wound features are important for effective ulcer healing and complication mitigation. This targeted review focuses on the three most common types of lower extremity ulcers: venous, arterial, and neuropathic. The goal of this paper is to characterize and discuss the general and specific aspects of these lower extremity ulcers and their relevancy and impact on the geriatric population. The top five main results of this study can be summarized as follows. (1) Venous ulcers, caused by inflammatory processes secondary to venous reflux and hypertension, are the most common chronic leg ulcer in the geriatric population. (2) Arterial-ischemic ulcers are mainly due to lower extremity vascular disease, which itself tends to increase with increasing age setting the stage for an age-related increase in leg ulcers. (3) Persons with DM are at increased risk of developing foot ulcers mainly due to neuropathy and localized ischemia, both of which tend to increase with advancing age. (4) In geriatric patients with leg ulcers, it is important to rule out vasculitis or malignancy as causes. (5) Treatment is best made on a case-by-case basis, considering the patient's underlying condition, comorbidities, overall health status, and life expectancy.

Endovascular Venous Interventions - A State-of-the-Art Review

Venous vascular diseases are an important clinical entity estimated to affect several million people worldwide. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common venous disease with a population variable prevalence of 122 to 160 persons per 100,000 per year, whereas pulmonary embolism (PE) affects up to 60 to 70 per 100 000 and carries much higher mortality. Chronic venous diseases, which cause symptoms like leg swelling, heaviness, pain, and discomfort, are most prevalent in the elderly and significantly impact their quality of life. Some estimate that chronic vascular diseases account for up to 2% of healthcare budgets in Western countries. Treating venous vascular disease includes using systemic anticoagulation and interventional therapies in some patient subsets. In this comprehensive review, we discuss endovascular treatment modalities in the management of venous vascular diseases.

Quality of life of patients with venous leg ulcers treated by a one-stop clinic

OBJECTIVE

Venous leg ulcers (VLU's) can impair patient quality of life (QoL) and have a significant impact on healthcare costs. Symptoms include pain and pruritis but can also lead to low self-esteem and sleep deprivation, which are often underestimated by physicians.

METHOD

We introduced a system in which patients with a VLU were examined and treated via a one-stop clinic. In this exploratory study, we evaluated the experiences of patients in this new setting using the Skindex-29 and conducting semi-structured interviews.

RESULTS

A total of seven patients completed the questionnaires and interviews. The study found that younger patients had an impaired QoL due to symptoms disrupting activities of daily living. The cooperation between healthcare workers, the consistent execution of the treatment plan by different care providers and the close contact between staff and patients were appreciated by patients. Patients were positive about the continuous care provided by homecare workers at the patient's home, and experienced higher levels of attention to their illness.

CONCLUSION

The introduction of a one-stop clinic led to better insight and awareness among staff of patients' symptoms and complaints. More focus and time should be given to patient-oriented symptoms, which was highly appreciated by patients in this study. This could eventually lead to a reduction in the impairing effects of VLUs on patients' lives and healthcare costs due to fewer visits to the hospital.

Venous leg ulcers and prevalence of surgically correctable reflux disease in a national registry

BACKGROUND

Chronic venous disorders are common, with varicose veins occurring in ∼40% of the population. Venous leg ulcers affect 1% to 2% of the population, with the prevalence increasing ≤4% for those aged >65 years. Both conditions are expensive and together are responsible for ≤2% of the annual healthcare budget expenditure of Western societies. The ESCHAR (effect of surgery and compression on healing and recurrence) and EVRA (early venous reflux ablation) trials demonstrated that surgical correction of superficial venous reflux reduced ulcer recurrence, resulted in faster healing times (EVRA), and was proved cost-effective. Largescale data regarding patients with chronic venous leg ulcers presenting to venous centers with treatable superficial venous insufficiency has not been previously reported. Our study was designed to evaluate the percentage of patients with leg ulcers presenting to dedicated vein centers who were found to have surgically correctable superficial venous insufficiency.

METHODS

The American Vein & Lymphatic Society Patient Reported Outcome Venous Registry began collecting data in 2014 and is one of two national registries focused on chronic venous disorders. The database was queried first for the presence of an ulcer using the CEAP (clinical, etiologic, anatomic, pathophysiologic) classification (C6 status). These de-identified data were further correlated by crossing the number of ulcers for the same limb using the revised venous clinical severity score (rVCSS). The demographics, index duplex ultrasound details, and rVCSS features for ulcer duration and compression use were analyzed. Once the presence of an ulcer had been validated by CEAP and rVCSS, the population was divided into groups according to the ultrasound-reported anatomic pathology (eg, normal, reflux, obstruction, reflux plus obstruction). The query was directed toward all patients seeking a venous evaluation at participating centers from January 2018 through January 2022.

RESULTS

More than 270,000 unique patient records were reviewed. Of the 270,000 records, 163,027 (60%) had had duplex ultrasound scans available, for 1794 unique patients (1879 limbs), representing 1.1% with a leg wound. Of these patients, 55.4% were men and 44.6% were women. Group S included patients with isolated superficial pathology (n = 1291; 68.7%). Group M included patients with mixed superficial and deep pathology (n = 238; 12.7%). Group D included patients with isolated deep vein pathology (n = 58; 3.1%). Finally, group N included patients with leg wounds but no venous pathology (n = 292; 15.5%). The rVCSSs for groups S and M were significantly higher than those for group N. In group S, the dominant patterns involved the great saphenous vein (GSV) above the knee (54.8%), the small saphenous vein (30.7%), and the anterior accessory GSV (14.4%). The frequency of single, double, and triple axial vein reflux identified 1.45 vessels eligible for ablation treatment per limb. In group M, the dominant patterns involved the GSV above the knee (61.7%), the small saphenous vein (26.2%), and the anterior accessory GSV (12.1%), for 1.52 axial segments per limb. Of the 84.4% of venous ulcer patients, duplex ultrasound analysis revealed that 97% of this large subset had had surgically correctable disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The American Vein & Lymphatic Society Patient Reported Outcome Venous Registry demonstrated that 85% of the leg wounds in the present study were venous in origin and 97% possessed surgically correctable disease. Our findings support early referral to dedicated vein centers with appropriate venous reflux management as a part of the multidisciplinary team caring for patients with venous leg ulcers.

Public awareness of chronic venous disease in Korea

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to evaluate the current level of chronic venous disease (CVD) awareness and its relevant influencing factors.

METHODS

Online and interview surveys were conducted in two distinct groups from May 14 to June 16, 2020. An online survey was conducted among 900 adults aged 20 to 64 years from the research database, whereas interviews were conducted among 124 patients who presented with CVD symptoms, which covered the awareness of such symptoms and their impact on quality of life.

RESULTS

Most respondents reported low levels of CVD awareness by recognizing the disease only by an entity. In 53 respondents who visited the hospital with suspected venous symptoms, the actual diagnosis was made in only 30.2%. CVD diagnosis was associated with increased CVD awareness. Female sex, age of >29 years, higher educational level, and higher income were associated with increased CVD awareness. Approximately 60% of the patients with CVD responded that physical symptoms had a negative impact on their quality of life rather than emotion or appearance.

CONCLUSIONS

The public is largely unaware of CVD but not in detail. Educational programs to improve CVD awareness should be implemented to enable appropriate CVD management.

Photodynamic therapy for treating infected skin wounds: A systematic review and meta-analysis from randomized clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Infected skin wounds represent a public health problem that effects 20 million people worldwide. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a treatment option with excellent results against several infections.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis on PDT efficacy for treating infected wounds based on randomized clinical trials (RCTs).

METHODS

PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, SciELO, and the Cochrane library were searched. The Delphi List criteria and the Revised Cochrane risk-of-bias (Rob 2) were used for evaluating the quality of clinical trials. Meta-analyses were performed with the random-effect model. The odds ratio was the effect measure for binary outcomes, while the standard mean difference was used for continuous outcomes. The trim-and-fill method was used to detect small-study effects. The quality of evidence was verified for each outcome.

RESULTS

Only four out of 573 articles were selected for the qualitative and quantitative analyses. The most frequent cause of infected wounds was impaired venous circulation (75%). All studies used red LED light. PDT reduced healing time and improved the healing process and wound oxygenation. Patients treated with PDT showed 15% to 17% (p = 0.0003/ I²=0%) lower microbial cell viability in the wound and a significantly smaller wound size (0.72 cm²/p = 0.0187/I²=0%) than patients treated with placebo or red-light exposure. There was a high level of evidence for each meta-analysis outcome.

CONCLUSION

PDT can be an excellent alternative treatment for infected skin wounds, though larger trials are needed.

Fluid handling performance of wound dressings tested in a robotic venous leg ulcer system under compression therapy

We designed, developed, built, and utilised a robotic system of a leg with two venous leg ulcers for testing the fluid handling performance of three wound dressing types. The results showed that a foam-based dressing technology is inferior in fluid handling performance when applied to an exuding venous leg ulcer, such that the dressing needs to manage the exudate in a vertical configuration with respect to the ground, that is, so that gravity pulls the exudate to concentrate in a small region at the bottom of the dressing. Moreover, wound dressings containing superabsorbent polymers do not necessarily function equally in fluid handling for venous leg ulcer scenarios, as the extreme requirements from the dressing (to manage the viscous fluid of a vertical and typically highly-exuding wound) appear to distinguish between optimal and suboptimal product performances despite that the tested products contain a superabsorbent, theoretically lumping them together to belong to a so-called 'superabsorbent dressing category'. In other words, it is a false premise to categorise products from different manufacturers into families based on material contents, and then assume that their laboratory or clinical performance is equal, so that from this point they can be judged solely on the basis of price.

Homocysteine and Inflammatory Cytokines in the Clinical Assessment of Infection in Venous Leg Ulcers

Inflammation and biofilm-associated infection are common in chronic venous leg ulcers (VU), causing deep pain and delayed healing. Albeit important, clinical markers and laboratory parameters for identifying and monitoring persistent VU infections are limited. This study analyzed 101 patients with infected (IVU) and noninfected VUs (NVU). Clinical data were collected in both groups. The serum homocysteine (Hcys) and inflammatory cytokines from the wound fluid were measured. In addition, microbial identification, antibiotic susceptibility, and biofilm production were examined. IVU were 56 (55.4%) while NVU were 45 (44.5%). IVUs showed a significant increase in the wound's size and depth compared to NVUs. In addition, significantly higher levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL17A, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) were found in patients with IVUs compared to those with NVUs. Notably, hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) was significantly more common in patients with IVUs than NVUs. A total of 89 different pathogens were identified from 56 IVUs. Gram-negative bacteria were 51.7%, while the Gram-positives were 48.3%. At the species level, Staphylococcus aureus was the most common isolate (43.8%), followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa (18.0%). Multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) accounted for 25.8% of the total isolates. Strong biofilm producers (SBPs) (70.8%) were significantly more abundant than weak biofilm producers (WBP) (29.2%) in IVUs. SBPs were present in 97.7% of the IVUs as single or multispecies infections. Specifically, SBPs were 94.9% for S. aureus, 87.5% for P. aeruginosa, and 28.6% for Escherichia coli. In IVU, the tissue microenvironment and biofilm production can support chronic microbial persistence and a most severe clinical outcome even in the presence of an intense immune response, as shown by the high levels of inflammatory molecules. The measurement of local cytokines in combination with systemic homocysteine may offer a novel set of biomarkers for the clinical assessment of IVUs caused by biofilm-producing bacteria.

A new compression system for treatment of venous leg ulcers: a prospective, single-arm, clinical trial (FREEDOM)

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the efficacy, tolerability and acceptability of a new multicomponent compression system in one bandage for the local treatment of patients with venous leg ulcers (VLUs).

METHOD

This was an international, prospective, non-comparative, clinical trial, conducted in France and Germany. Eligible participants had a VLU with a wound area of 2-20cm², lasting for a maximum of 24 months. For a period of 6 weeks, patients were treated with a new multicomponent compression system in one bandage which was worn day and night, providing high working pressure and moderate resting pressure (UrgoK1). Clinical assessments, wound measurement and photographs were planned at weeks 1, 2, 4 and 6. The primary endpoint was the relative wound area reduction (RWAR) after 6 weeks of treatment. Secondary endpoints included wound closure rate, oedema resolution, change in patient's health-related quality of life (HRQoL), acceptability, adherence to the compression therapy, local tolerance, and physician's overall satisfaction with the evaluated compression system.

RESULTS

A cohort of 52 patients (52% female, mean age 75.4±13.0 years) with VLUs, including oedema in 58% of cases, were recruited from 22 centres. At baseline, 42 patients had already been treated with a different compression system. VLUs had been present for 5.6±4.9 months and had a mean area of 5.7±4.3cm². After 6 weeks of treatment, a median RWAR of 91% (interquartile range: 39.4; 100.0) was achieved. Wound closure was reported in 35% of patients. A RWAR ≥40% at week 4, predictive of wound healing at 12 weeks, was achieved in 62% of patients. At the final visit, oedema present at baseline was resolved in 57% of patients. Substantial improvements in the HRQoL of the patients were reported with a decrease of the pain/discomfort and anxiety/depression dimensions. Comfort in wearing the evaluated system was reported as 'very good' or 'good' by 79% of patients, resulting in a high patient adherence to compression therapy. Compared to previous compression systems, half of the patients reported more ease in wearing shoes, and greater satisfaction and comfort with this new system. Nine non-serious adverse events related to the device or its procedure occurred in seven patients. At the final visit, the majority of the physicians were 'very satisfied' or 'satisfied' with the new compression system overall.

CONCLUSION

The new multicomponent compression system in one bandage has been shown to promote rapid healing of VLUs, reduce oedema, improve HRQoL and to be well tolerated and accepted. It appears to be a viable alternative to existing compression systems.

Investigating Quality of Life Instrument Measurement Properties for Adults with Active Venous Leg Ulcers: A Systematic Review

The primary objective of this systematic review was to identify which quality of life instruments have been applied in published studies of patients with active venous leg ulcers. Our secondary objective was to map the measurement properties of each identified quality of life instrument and to inform future recommendations for clinical practice and research. We searched CINAHL, Ovid Medline, Ovid Emcare and ProQuest to identify studies published from 1 January 2000 to 31 July 2021. Eleven studies that utilised quality of life instruments in adults with active venous leg ulcers met the inclusion criteria. Thirteen quality of life instruments were identified as some studies utilised both generic and condition‐specific quality of life instruments. Six out of nine (6/9) instruments were rated ‘very good’ of methodological quality on internal consistency; 1/7 studies rated ‘adequate’ on reliability; 2/4 rated ‘adequate’ on content validity; 3/6 studies rated ‘adequate’ on structural validity; 5/6 rated ‘adequate’ on hypotheses testing for construct and 2/6 studies rated ‘adequate’ on responsiveness. There is limited evidence of measurement properties of quality of life instruments for people with active venous leg ulcers. The Venous Leg Ulcer Quality of Life Questionnaire (VLU‐QoL) could be provisionally recommended for use although from our review it is clear further studies to assess VLU‐QoL measurement properties are needed to inform future recommendations for clinical practice and research.