Author(s) : Maria Hughes, Helen Strapp, Alita Jaspar, Bram Balduyck
Venous leg ulcers (VLUs; also known as varicose or stasis ulcers) pose significant challenges to patients and healthcare systems: they are the most common type of leg ulcer, costly to manage, recurring, and may persist for months or years (Harding et al, 2015). This can significantly impact patient quality of life, leading to depression, anxiety and social isolation. Other issues associated with VLUs that can negatively impact on quality of life include the following:
- Pain
- Leaking exudate
- Odour
- Restricted mobility
- Sleep disturbance.