Socioeconomic impact of chronic venous insufficiency and leg ulcers

Chronic venous insufficiency affects approximately 5% and chronic leg ulcer approximately 1% of the adult population of developed countries. Not only do recent quality of life studies highlight major disability and social impairment but, since this is a condition characterized by chronicity and relapse, it gives rise to massive health care expenditure amounting in the UK to around pound 400 million per annum. Venous disease consumes 1-2% of the health care budgets of European countries. Imprecise disease classifications and codings impede the acquisition of accurate data but there is a compelling need for better quality socioeconomic data concerning this long-neglected health care problem.