Psychosocial aspects of chronic lower leg ulceration in the elderly.

The perceived health of a group of elderly people with chronic lower leg ulceration was compared with health perceptions of a matched group of controls. The perceived psychological well-being, self-esteem, life satisfaction, and social supports of the two groups were also compared. The people with leg ulceration described significantly more problems with activity and mobility, pain, and health worries and concerns than the control group. The groups did not differ significantly in their general evaluations of their health status, the experience of physical symptoms, or the numbers of diagnosed medical problems present. The leg ulcer group reported significantly lower levels of self-esteem and higher levels of negative affect, but the groups did not differ significantly on the other psychological variables. Leg ulcers are a serious problem for those affected by them, and health care providers need to be more informed about the effect of chronic health problems on elderly persons.