Human Wound and Its Burden: Updated 2020 Compendium of Estimates

Adv Wound Care (New Rochelle). 2021 May;10(5):281-292. doi: 10.1089/wound.2021.0026.

Abstract

Significance: Chronic wounds impact the quality of life (QoL) of nearly 2.5% of the total population in the United States and the management of wounds has a significant economic impact on health care. Given the aging population, the continued threat of diabetes and obesity worldwide, and the persistent problem of infection, it is expected that chronic wounds will continue to be a substantial clinical, social, and economic challenge. In 2020, the coronavirus disease (COVID) pandemic dramatically disrupted health care worldwide, including wound care. A chronic nonhealing wound (CNHW) is typically correlated with comorbidities such as diabetes, vascular deficits, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease. These risk factors make persons with CNHW at high risk for severe, sometimes lethal outcomes if infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (pathogen causing COVID-19). The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted several aspects of the wound care continuum, including compliance with wound care visits, prompting alternative approaches (use of telemedicine and creation of videos to help with wound dressing changes among others), and encouraging a do-it-yourself wound dressing protocol and use of homemade remedies/substitutions. Recent Advances: There is a developing interest in understanding how the social determinants of health impact the QoL and outcomes of wound care patients. Furthermore, addressing wound care in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of telemedicine options in the continuum of care. Future Directions: The economic, clinical, and social impact of wounds continues to rise and requires appropriate investment and a structured approach to wound care, education, and related research.

Keywords: COVID skin; human wound burden; military wounds; wound care education; wound economics.

Publication types

  • Editorial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Bandages
  • COVID-19
  • Chronic Disease
  • Delivery of Health Care
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Diabetic Foot / economics
  • Diabetic Foot / epidemiology
  • Diabetic Foot / therapy
  • Education, Medical
  • Education, Nursing
  • Foot Ulcer / economics
  • Foot Ulcer / epidemiology
  • Foot Ulcer / therapy
  • Humans
  • Leg Ulcer / economics
  • Leg Ulcer / epidemiology*
  • Leg Ulcer / therapy
  • Obesity / epidemiology
  • Overweight / epidemiology
  • Patient Education as Topic
  • Pressure Ulcer / economics
  • Pressure Ulcer / epidemiology*
  • Pressure Ulcer / therapy
  • SARS-CoV-2
  • Self Care
  • Social Determinants of Health
  • Telemedicine
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Varicose Ulcer / economics
  • Varicose Ulcer / epidemiology
  • Varicose Ulcer / therapy
  • Wound Infection / economics
  • Wound Infection / epidemiology*
  • Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Wound Infection / therapy
  • Wounds and Injuries / economics
  • Wounds and Injuries / epidemiology*
  • Wounds and Injuries / therapy