Comorbidities as prognostic factors in the healing of venous ulcers

Abstract

Background: The problem of venous ulcers and chronic venous insufficiency is quite common in dermatological clinics. Every day, we face challenges regarding treatment and prognosis. As the patients are more often over fifty years of age, with more comorbidities, and at the very beginning of treatment, we already have an idea of how the entire process of epithelization of the ulcers may take place. Materials and Methods: A total of 105 patients with chronic venous insufficiency and venous ulcers were included in the study. Each was followed for more than twelve weeks. Patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and thrombophlebitis were analyzed separately. Results: Patients with an ulcer closure time of twelve weeks and longer had a high blood pressure more often. Diabetics with venous ulcers on the lower extremities more often had delayed ulcer healing. A statistically significant difference was confirmed in the distribution of the patients with and without thrombophlebitis. Conclusion: The existence of comorbidities, such as hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and thrombosis, may affect the healing process of venous ulcers, yet thrombosis proved to be the most important factor. Key words: Venous Ulcers; Diabetes Mellitus; Thrombosis; Hypertension