Human Wound and Its Burden: Updated 2025 Compendium of Estimates
Summary: This annual compendium updates the global chronic wound burden: 10.5M Medicare beneficiaries affected (1 in 6), costing $22.5B/year, with U.S. total spend at $148.65B (2022, projected $160B+ in 2025). Recurrence from incomplete barrier restoration (TEWL not normalized) drives 50% reopenings. Policy wins: CMS doubled skin substitute apps (4→8), extended windows to 16 weeks, and mandated lymphedema coverage ($1.3-1.5B savings/10 years). Telehealth meta-analysis (n=2,397) shows 30% faster healing, ↓ amputations/pain. Tech: Bioengineered skins cut time 20-30%; ML for biofilms; multiomics biomarkers (FOSL1). Calls for holistic Wound Balance Framework and federal funding boost.
Key Highlights:
- U.S. Stats: 53.1M diabetics; 96M prediabetics; outpatient costs ↓ to $2.5B (2019) but physician office ↑ to $4.1B.
- Global: U.S. leads ($148B), China/Japan $42B/$23B; 38% adult prediabetes.
- Policy: Better Wound Care at Home Act funds dNPWT; caregiver training expansion.
- Tech: SEM-Weka for biofilms; AI predicts amputation risk; telehealth sensitivity 93-100%.
- Authors: Sen CK, Mustoe T, Gurtner GC et al.
Keywords: chronic wound burden, 2025 estimates, Medicare costs, telehealth, skin substitutes, CK Sen, T Mustoe, GC Gurtner