EPIDEMIOLOGY OF LOWER-LIMB ULCERS: STUDY OF INPATIENT DURING 2013-2014 IN ARGENTINA

CHAVEZ JARA, ROMINA; CERUSICO, NICOLAS; DI TOTO BLESSING, LILIAN; RAMOS VERNIERI, ALBERTO; LAZARTE, MARIA DE LOS ANGELES; CABRERA, CARLA; GONZALEZ, EXEQUIEL; HERRERA BRUNO, ANDREA; MALDONADO, NATALIA; SESTO CABRAL, MARIA EUGENIA

Buenos Aires

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta de Sociedades de Biociencias; 2017

Lower-limb ulcer (LLU) affects approximately 1% of the population around the world and is a serious problem for patients, professionals and health systems. In Latin America (especially in Argentina) this is an undervalued problem due the lack of epidemiological studies. The aim of this study was to contribute to the knowledge about this problem in the North-West Region of Argentina.Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 359 inpatient medical records with ICD-10 codes related to LLU that were hospitalized at A. Padilla Hospital, in Tucumán, Argentina, during the period 2013-2014 was conducted. This study was approved by the SIPROSA Bioethics Committee and the Hospital Teaching and Research Committee. There was collected information about inpatient social status (city, educational status, employment status, social insurance and marital status), hospitalization (inpatient age, sex, days and weather influence) characteristic of ulcer (type, quantity, location, evolution, microbiology, treatments, etc.) and other epidemiological data.Results: Frequencies, incidence, prevalence, clinical and dermatological associations, and therapeutic effectiveness were determined. This allowed us to evaluate the situation of inpatient with LLU in our region. Statistical analyses were performed using standard statistical programs, which were compared with similar studies published around world. An average of 23 days of hospitalization per patient was observed, mainly caused by diabetic peripheral circulatory complications (59%). 60% of the patients were amputated before or during the study period. A clear association between the level of education of the patients and the hospitalizations was found (84% only with primary school), as with the employment situation (83% do not have job)Conclusion: This study allows us to find new opportunities for therapeutic improvement, shortening hospitalization time and associated costs, and improving hospital organization.