Leg ulcers in New Zealand: age at onset, recurrence and provision of care in an urban population.

AIM: To describe the age at onset, recurrence rate, and provision of care for people with leg ulcers in New Zealand.
METHODS: Between 1997 and 1998, people with current leg ulcers were identified from the North Auckland and Central Auckland health districts via notification from relevant health professionals and by self-referral. All ulcer types were investigated. Identified cases, aged between 40 and 99 years and on the general electoral roll, were interviewed as part of a case-control study. Descriptive information relating to interviewed cases is presented.
RESULTS: 241 people with leg ulcers were interviewed. The average age was 75 years and almost 60% were women. The average age at ulcer onset was 65 years, 59% of people had recurrent ulcers, and 24% had been hospitalised in the last five years because of their leg ulcers. Those people with recurrent leg ulcers had lived with their condition for an average of fifteen years, with an average time to healing for their last ulcer of thirteen months. Treatment of this condition was largely community-based, with 136 different treatment options employed.
CONCLUSIONS: Leg ulceration remains a chronic and recurring condition, with substantial practice variation in terms of treatment. Urgent attention needs to be given to the management of leg ulcer patients in this country, particularly given that New Zealand has a rapidly ageing population.