Implementing a Locally Made Low-Cost Intervention for Wound and Lymphedema Care in Western Kenya

In Western Kenya, the burden of chronic wounds and lymphedema has a significant impact on functionality and quality of life. Major barriers to provision of care include availability, affordability, and accessibility of bandages. At the Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare, dermatologists and pharmacists collaborated to develop a 2-component compression bandage modeled after the Unna boot, using locally available materials, that is distributed through a revolving fund pharmacy network. In partnership with nursing, use of these bandages at a national referral hospital and a few county facilities has increased, but increasing utilization to an expanded catchment area is needed.

Economic benefit of a novel dual-mode ambulatory compression device for treatment of chronic venous leg ulcers in a randomized clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Limb compression is a key component of protocols used to heal venous leg ulcers (VLUs). A novel ambulatory pneumatic compression device was tested in comparison with multilayered bandage (MLB) compression systems for the treatment of VLUs in a prospective randomized clinical trial.

METHODS

Patients with VLUs measuring 1.5 to 50 cm² with duration of 1 to 24 months were randomized to treatment with a pneumatic compression device, the ACTitouch adaptive compression therapy (ACT) system (Tactile Medical, Minneapolis, Minn), or MLB. The ACT group patients were seen in the clinic at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, and 16 or until wounds healed; the MLB group was seen weekly for bandage and dressing changes for 16 weeks or until wounds healed. All other aspects of VLU care were standardized between the two groups. The primary study objective was to compare the VLU percentage area reduction at 16 weeks in the ACT group compared with the MLB group.

RESULTS

There were 56 patients randomized to treatment with ACT (n = 26) or MLB (n = 30). In the ACT group, five patients exited because of skin or wound problems related to the ACT device and five withdrew because of the inconvenience of using the device. Therefore, the trial was halted before full randomization so improvements to the ACT device could be made. Data collected on 42 patients who were able to tolerate treatment for the 16-week study period (per protocol group) showed that both groups experienced similar rates of wound healing. In the per protocol population, the percentage area size reduction was greater for the ACT group compared with the MLB group (83.8% vs 70.5%, respectively), whereas no significant differences were noted in the percentage of wounds that healed by 16 weeks (60.0% vs 63.0%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In this truncated clinical trial, a novel dual-mode ambulatory compression device, when tolerated, achieved wound healing results similar to those with MLB for chronic VLUs. The device requires modifications to improve the patient's comfort and ease of use. However, this mode of therapy appears to have promise for improving the cost-effectiveness of treatment for chronic VLUs.

Clinical and Economic Impact of a Two-layer Compression System for the Treatment of Venous Leg Ulcers: A Systematic Review

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluates the clinical and cost effectiveness of a 2-layer compression system (2LBA; 3M Coban Two-Layer Compression System; 3M, St Paul, MN) compared with other 2-layer (2LB) and 4-layer (4LB) compression systems in patients with noninfected venous leg ulcers (VLUs).

METHODS

The MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, National Health Service (NHS) Economic Evaluation, and EconLit databases were searched from inception up to January 2017. The MEDLINE search was updated on March 31, 2017. Study selection, quality assessment, and data synthesis were undertaken in accordance with recommended standards. Findings were presented narratively.

RESULTS

In total, 5 studies (N = 1509 patients) of mixed methodological quality were included. At 6 months, 2LBA achieved better ulcer healing in comparison with 2LBB (odds ratio [OR], 1.57; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-2.24; P = .03) and 4LBA (OR, 1.93, 95% CI, 1.26-2.97; P = .05) in patients with newly diagnosed ulcers only. For a combined population with newly diagnosed and existing VLUs, healing outcomes were OR, 2.87; 95% CI, 1.06-7.77; P = .04, and OR, 16.51; 95% CI, 2.08-131.37; P = .008, for 2LBs and 4LBs, respectively. Results on slippage were inconclusive. Adverse events were infrequent and did not differ significantly between interventions. Lower 6-month NHS costs for the combined population (£2413 vs. £2707 or £2648) and for newly diagnosed patients (£3045 vs. £3842 or £4480) were observed comparing 2LBA with 2LBB or 4LBA. Also, 2LBA was associated with better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 6 months.

CONCLUSIONS

Based on these findings, 2LBA may result in lower treatment costs and better ulcer healing and HRQoL compared with other multicomponent therapies, especially in patients with newly diagnosed VLUs. However, further high-quality research is needed, especially for outcomes such as slippage and bandage wear time.

Treatment of Chronic Venous Ulcers Using New Four Layers Compressive Bandage Dressing

INTRODUCTION

Lower-extremity ulcers represent the largest group of ulcers presenting to an outpatient department. It is a cumbersome, difficult to treat disease, which causes high morbidity and huge cost for the patient and healthcare system. Current standard treatment includes compression therapy.  However, majority of patients need long term treatment with minimal efficacy. Aim of our study is to evaluate efficacy of four layers compressive bandages for the management of chronic venous ulcers.

METHODS

In Group A, we have prospectively included 20 patients with chronic venous ulcers on lower limbs for four layers hosiery bandage using Velfour bandage. Other 15 patients, Group B, were treated with conventional wound dressing. Velfour and crepe bandage were done once weekly for three weeks.

RESULTS

DVT was cause of chronic venous ulcer in 70% patient in group A and in 73.3% in Group B. Majority of patients were having left sided chronic venous ulcers. The mean duration of the ulcers was 15.6 vs 10.86 months (group A vs. group B). At the end of 3rd week, in 55% wounds in Group A were healed except few big and deep wounds remained. Most of these wounds also became smaller with minimal discharge. Size of wounds significantly decreased in Group A vs. Group B patients (0.7±0.81 cm vs. 1.73±0.77 cm, p<0.00031). However, cost of treatment in group A remained higher than group B.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study has shown that four layer compressive bandage using Velfour is an easy, effective, and reproducible method of treatment for the chronic venous ulcer.

Cost-effectiveness of three adjunct cellular/tissue-derived products used in the management of chronic venous leg ulcers

OBJECTIVES

Determine the cost-effectiveness of three topically applied cellular/tissue-derived products (CTPs) used as adjunct therapies to standard care in the management of venous leg ulcers (VLUs).

METHODS

A three-state Markov model derived from the medical literature was developed to estimate the comparative cost-effectiveness of three CTPs in relation to VLU standard care. CTPs evaluated in the study included extracellular matrix (ECM), human skin equivalent (HSE), and living skin equivalent (LSE). The three Markov states included unhealed, healed, and death. A 1-year time horizon was used to determine the number of ulcer-free weeks and the expected costs of therapies. The payer perspective was taken in the analysis and only the direct costs of care were considered. Sensitivity analyses were performed to gauge model parameter uncertainty.

RESULTS

The expected costs for standard care, ECM, HSE, and LSE VLU therapy were $6,132, $6,732, $10,638, and $11,237, while the expected outcomes were 24, 31, 29, and 27 ulcer-free weeks, respectively. ECM was economically dominant among the three CTPs. In the base case of ECM versus standard care, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio for ECM therapy was $86 per ulcer-free week. Sensitivity analysis did not alter ECM dominance. Clinic visits and home health utilization exhibited the greatest influence on cost.

CONCLUSIONS

ECM is the most cost-effective CTP when used in the management of VLUs as an adjunct to standard care. These findings suggest that VLU standard care therapy with ECM can yield potential cost savings and produce better outcomes than do other CTPs.

Clinical and cost-effectiveness of compression hosiery versus compression bandages in treatment of venous leg ulcers (Venous leg Ulcer Study IV, VenUS IV): a randomised controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Drawbacks exist with the standard treatment (four-layer compression bandages) for venous leg ulcers. We have therefore compared the clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of two-layer compression hosiery with the four-layer bandage for the treatment of such ulcers.

METHODS

We undertook this pragmatic, open, randomised controlled trial with two parallel groups in 34 centres in England and Northern Ireland. The centres were community nurse teams or services, family doctor practices, leg ulcer clinics, tissue viability clinics or services, and wound clinics. Participants were aged 18 years or older with a venous leg ulcer and an ankle brachial pressure index of at least 0·8, and were tolerant of high compression. We randomly allocated participants (1:1) to receive two-layer compression hosiery or a four-layer bandage, using a remote randomisation service and prevalidated computer randomisation program. Participants were stratified by ulcer duration and ulcer area with permuted blocks (block sizes four and six). The primary endpoint was time to ulcer healing, with a maximum follow-up of 12 months. Although participants and health-care providers were not masked to treatment allocation, the primary endpoint was measured by masked assessment of photographs. Primary analysis was intention to treat with Cox regression, with adjustment for ulcer area, ulcer duration, physical mobility, and centre. This trial is registered with the ISRCTN register, number ISRCTN49373072.

FINDINGS

We randomly allocated 457 participants to the two treatment groups: 230 to two-layer hosiery and 227 to the four-layer bandage, of whom 453 (230 hosiery and 223 bandage) contributed data for analysis. Median time to ulcer healing was 99 days (95% CI 84-126) in the hosiery group and 98 days (85-112) in the bandage group, and the proportion of ulcers healing was much the same in the two groups (70·9% hosiery and 70·4% bandage). More hosiery participants changed their allocated treatment (38·3% hosiery vs 27·0% bandage; p=0·02). 300 participants had 895 adverse events, of which 85 (9·5%) were classed as serious but unrelated to trial treatment.

INTERPRETATION

Two-layer compression hosiery is a viable alternative to the four-layer bandage-it is equally as effective at healing venous leg ulcers. However, a higher rate of treatment changes in participants in the hosiery group than in the bandage group suggests that hosiery might not be suitable for all patients.

FUNDING

NIHR Health Technology Assessment programme (07/60/26).

Superficial venous insufficiency from the infernal to the endothermal

This review presents the common diseases associated with superficial venous insufficiency of the leg. These include varicose veins, swelling, skin damage and ulceration. The benefits and rationale behind treatment are discussed, followed by the historical advances from ancient mortality and prayer to the modern endovenous revolution. Finally, an overview of modern treatment options will discuss the evidence supporting the gold standard of endothermal ablation and the cost effectiveness of treatment at this time of challenging resource limitation.

Evaluating the effectiveness of the customized Unna boot when treating patients with venous ulcers

BACKGROUND

Lower limb ulcers are a serious medical and socioeconomic problem throughout the world. One type of chronic wound of the lower extremities is the venous ulcer. Therapeutic methods for treating venous ulcer include the use of the Unna boot.

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the effectiveness of the customized Unna boot in the treatment of venous ulcers and to monitor the subsequent development and healing of the lesions.

METHODS

Prospective exploratory and quantitative longitudinal study, conducted at the "Outpatients Department (Wound Care) of the Grupo da Fraternidade Espírita Irmão Alexandre" in the city of Pouso Alegre (MG), Brazil, in 2008. The sample consisted of 32 patients with venous ulcers who underwent treatment with the Unna boot and 11 patients (control group), who used a simple bandage application. The patients'lesions were monitored over a three month period.

RESULTS

The average age of the predominently female (65.1%) patients was 61.88. From observing the differences in healing times at the three evaluation stages, it was clear that after the initial evaluation the wound area decreased in Groups 1 and 2 (p>0.05).

CONCLUSION

The use of the customized Unna boot contributes to quicker healing. However, over a period of three months the simple bandage applications were seen to be just as effective as the Unna boot method.

Strategy for the treatment of chronic leg wounds: a new model in Poland

AIM

The aim of the present study was to implement and evaluate a system of care for patients with chronic leg ulceration (CLU) in Poland.

METHODS

All patients within two defined geographical areas in Poland were identified for inclusion in the study. A model of care was developed based on guidelines, including the appropriate education of health professionals treating patients, access to non-invasive methods to determine the ulcer aetiology, compression therapy in those with proven venous ulceration.

RESULTS

In total 309 patients were identified with CLU at the start of the study (120 men, 189 women). Both regions had a similar profile of patients having a median (IQR) duration of ulceration of 96 (30-168) months. Most (75.7%) patients were assessed using clinical signs and symptoms alone, with a mean (SD) number of treatments per week at 1.8 (1.9) visits. Two years after implementation, the numbers of patients had reduced to 205 (86 men, 119 women) a reduction of 33%. Post implementation more patients were treated at home (49.3% versus 19.5%) with a corresponding reduction in those seen at health centres (35.6% versus 63.3%). The mean (SD) number of visits was reduced to 1.3 (0.7). During implementation the healing rate at 30 weeks improved from 73.3% to 82.9%, with a corresponding reduction in amputations from 6.3% to 2.1%. While the cost per patient was higher post-implementation, the overall cost of treating patients within the service reduced from €3847 to €2913 per week.

CONCLUSION

The development and implementation of an evidence based system of care for patients with CLU in Poland is both clinically and cost effective. This may be used as a model for other regions of Poland.

Clinical and cost efficacy of advanced wound care matrices for venous ulcers

BACKGROUND

In the United States, venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are commonly associated with substantial disability, impaired quality of life, and high economic costs. Compression therapy, which has remained the standard care for VLUs over several decades, is often insufficient to heal VLUs in a timely manner. VLU-related treatment costs are directly related to time to achieve complete wound closure. Advanced wound care matrices (AWCMs) developed to stimulate wound healing may reduce VLU-related costs associated with delayed healing. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated the wound-healing efficacy of several AWCMs in patients with VLUs. However, comparisons of products' clinical and cost efficacy, which may guide clinical and formulary determinations, are lacking.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate, in terms of number needed to treat (NNT), the comparative clinical and cost efficacy of targeted AWCMs as adjuncts to compression therapy for the treatment of chronic VLUs from the U.S. health care system (payer) perspective.

METHODS

A review of published articles (from the earliest available Medline publication date to June 1, 2011) identified RCTs evaluating complete wound closure rates for up to 24 weeks in patients with VLUs treated with targeted AWCMs (Apligraf, Oasis, or Talymed) plus compression therapy compared with compression therapy alone. The most favorable estimates of product efficacy (i.e., those that were statistically significant compared with compression therapy) were used. These included statistically adjusted results for Apligraf as reported in the product insert and the biweekly application for Talymed. Based on the reported efficacy of targeted AWCMs, we calculated the NNT to achieve 1 additional treatment success (i.e., complete wound closure) over that which was achieved with standard therapy alone; 95% CIs were estimated using the Wilson score method proposed by Newcombe. Cost efficacy, defined as the incremental cost per additional successfully treated patient, was then calculated by multiplying the NNT associated with each treatment by the product acquisition cost per treated VLU episode.

RESULTS

One study for each of 3 targeted AWCMs (Apligraf [n=130 treatment, n=110 control]; Oasis Wound Matrix [n=62 treatment, n=58 control]; and Talymed [n=22 treatment, n=20 control]) met inclusion criteria. Study designs and wound characteristics varied. Average VLU sizes were 1 cm2, 10-12 cm2, and 10-13 cm2 in the studies of Apligraf, Oasis, and Talymed, respectively. Ulcer duration exceeded 12 months for 50% of patients in the Apligraf study and was at least 7 months for 47% of patients in the Oasis study; patients with ulcers exceeding 6 months were excluded from the study of Talymed. Length of follow-up was 24 weeks for Apligraf, 12 weeks for Oasis, and 20 weeks for Talymed. NNT point estimates of clinical efficacy were 2 for Talymed, 5 for Oasis, and 6 for Apligraf; 95% CIs ranged from 2 to 8 for Talymed, 3 to 24 for Apligraf, and 3 to 39 for Oasis. Incremental costs (95% CIs) per additional successfully treated patient were $1,600 ($1,600-$6,400) for Talymed, $3,150 ($1,890-$24,570) for Oasis, and $29,952 ($14,976-$119,808) for Apligraf.

CONCLUSIONS

The most expensive AWCM for the treatment of VLUs did not appear to provide the greatest comparative clinical or cost efficacy. Conclusions must be tempered by the small number of available studies (n=3), variability in trial duration (from 12 to 24 weeks) and baseline wound characteristics, and limitations in study quality. Given the high prevalence, economic burden, and substantial disability of VLUs, and the wide variation in costs for AWCMs, payers need more high-quality head-to-head comparisons to guide coverage and reimbursement determinations for these products.