[Treatment of venous leg ulcers is costly for the health care and the society. The value of preventive measures should be further investigated according to a study].

Annual costs for the treatment of venous leg ulcers in Sweden have been estimated at between SEK 17,000 and SEK 26,500 per patient in 2002 prices. The calculation was based on a model simulation including data from a follow-up of patients in clinical practice, an expert panel, and published literature. The variation in costs depends on ulcer size and ulcer duration when treatment is initiated. The highest costs were estimated for a group of patients with ulcers 10 cm2 or larger and ulcer duration of 6 months or longer. About 50 per cent of the total annual costs were related to staff costs for dressing changes.