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Copyright of Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Summary: This S2k guideline on venous leg ulcers was created on the initiative and under the leadership of the German Society of Phlebology and Lymphology (DGPL). The guideline group also consisted of representatives from the German Society for Phlebology and Lymphology, German Dermatological Society, German Society for General Medicine, German Society for Angiology, German Society for Vascular Surgery and Vascular Medicine, German Society for Surgery, German Society for Dermatosurgery, German Society for Wound Healing and Wound Treatment, Professional Association of Phlebologists and Lymphologists and Initiative Chronische Wunden. The aim of this guideline is to combine the different approaches and levels of knowledge of the respective professional groups on the basis of consensus, so that a basic concept for the best possible treatment of patients with venous leg ulcers can be provided. A total of 70 specific recommendations were formulated and agreed upon, divided into the subject areas of diagnostics, therapy, prevention of recurrences, and everyday challenges. The guideline thus reflects the current state of scientific knowledge and is intended to be widely used as the best available document for the treatment of patients with venous leg ulcers in everyday clinical practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with chronic leg ulcer, pressure ulcer, or diabetic foot ulcer suffer from significant disease burden. With a view to improving healthcare provision sustainably, a predictive model of time to closure (time‐to‐event analysis) based on claims data was developed. To identify potential predictors of wound closure, clinical information absent from statutory health insurance (SHI) data was modelled. In patients with leg ulcers, age of the patient (hazard ratios [HR] 0.99), increasing number of comorbidities (HR 0.94), inpatient stays (HR 0.74), and treatment by a specialised wound care professional (HR 1.18) were significant predictors of time to closure (adjusted model). In almost all models, the number of inpatient stays and of comorbidities predicted a lower probability of healing. In addition, the age and the sex of the patient were found to be significant predictors in some models (leg ulcer: HR 0.99; pressure ulcer: HR 0.99). Increasing number of comorbidities and inpatient stays were predictors for closure time in all models. Since these predictors may give an indication of wound severity, further clinical information should be considered in future models, as also indicated by the moderate values of the c‐statistics. This requires future data linkage between SHI and primary studies (eg, registers). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: WoundQoL is a newly developed instrument for the assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in chronic wounds. An implementation tool (“WoundAct”) which facilitates the start of measures in case of HRQoL impairments. Objective: To evaluate the feasibility and validity of WoundQoL and to develop under routine care conditions. Methods: Prospective non-interventional, cross-sectional evaluation study including patients of four ambulant wound clinics. HRQoL was measured in patients with chronic wounds of any kind by WoundQoL and EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D). Moreover, a feasibility questionnaire was used and clinical wound parameters were obtained. Additionally, the implementation tool “WoundAct” was used which identifies the need for action in areas of markedly reduced HRQoL. Results: Date were obtained from n =100 consecutive patients. Mean WoundQoL total values differed between 3.5 and 0.5 (scale from 4=maximum to 0=no QoL reduction). Single-item analysis revealed areas of reduced HRQoL in 88 (88%) of the patients. The total WoundQoL score and the three single scales showed good internal consistency (Crohnbach's alpha between 0.85 and 0.92). Construct validity measured by correlation with the EQ-5D scale was satisfactory (r =0.65, p <0.001). Feasibility was high with<1% of missing items and a high patient acceptance (>95% approval). Mean filling time was 2.4min. The implementation questionnaire WoundAct was perceived a helpful tool for health carers. Conclusion: WoundQoL is a feasible and valid questionnaire for the assessment of HRQoL in chronic wounds. The implementation tool WoundAct is convenient for implementing active measures to improve patient condition. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]