Meulendijks AM, de Vries FMC, van Dooren AA, Schuurmans MJ, Neumann HAM, et al.
Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV. Date of publication 2018 Nov 13;volume ():.
1. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2018 Nov 13. doi: 10.1111/jdv.15343. [Epub ahead of
print]
A systematic review on risk factors in developing a first-time Venous Leg Ulcer.
Meulendijks AM(1)(2), de Vries FMC(2)(3), van Dooren AA(2), Schuurmans MJ(1)(2),
Neumann HAM(4).
Author information:
(1)Julius Center of Health Care Sciences, Nursing Science, University Medical
Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
(2)Research Centre for Healthy and Sustainable Living, University of Applied
Sciences Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
(3)Raboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
(4)Department of Dermatology, Erasmus Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Venous Leg Ulcers (VLU) occur in about 1% of the Western population. A VLU takes
3-12 months to heal, it recurs often, and it has a negative impact on the quality
of life. The risk factors for the development of a first VLU are not
well-understood and prevention of a first VLU therefore remains underappreciated.
The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for developing a first VLU in
adults (aged > 18 years) by searching the literature. We searched the Cochrane
Library, Pubmed, Cinalh and Narcisto identify studies that investigated risk
factors in developing a VLU. The last search was performed in January 2018. Two
reviewers independently reviewed the abstracts and full-text articles, and
assessed the methodological quality of the included studies. Results of studies
using duplex scanning, and comparing participants with and without VLUs were
included in the qualitative analysis. Where possible a quantitative meta-analysis
was conducted. We found five studies that investigated the relation of several
risk factors with VLU development. The methodological differences of the studies
made it impossible to perform a quantitative analysis. The risk factors higher
age (four studies), higher body mass index (four studies), low physical activity
(four studies), arterial hypertension (four studies), deep vein reflux (three
studies), deep venous thrombosis (three studies) and family history of VLU (three
studies) were significantly associated with a VLU in the majority of the studies.
To what extent they influence the development of a VLU remains unclear because of
the limited number of studies that investigated the association of these risk
factors with VLU development, and the heterogeneity of these studies. Further
studies are needed to confirm the association of these risk factors with the
development of a VLU and to explore overweight and low physical activity in more
detail.
© 2018 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.
DOI: 10.1111/jdv.15343
PMID: 30422345
