Point Prevalence of Chronic Wounds at a Tertiary Hospital in Nigeria.

Background: Chronic wounds are a drain on resources both for the patient and health institution. Management of chronic wounds based on evidence-based practice requires baseline data for adequate planning.

Objectives: This study was carried out to determine the point prevalence of chronic wounds in a tertiary hospital (University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria) and utilize this information for subsequent wound care planning.

Methods: The study was carried out within a 1-month period and included all patients seen in the hospital with chronic wounds. The data obtained was entered into a designed form and was subsequently analyzed.

Results: There were 48 patients with 78 wounds representing approximately 11% of patients seen in the Department of Plastic, Reconstructive, and Aesthetic Surgery each month. Their ages ranged from 3 months to 80 years; the median age was 48 years. The male to female ratio was 1.6 to 1. The duration of the wounds ranged from 6 weeks to 780 weeks; the median duration of the wounds was 10 weeks. The area of the wounds ranged from 1 cm(2) -1,248 cm(2) (median 24 cm(2)). The most common chronic wounds were diabetic wounds, followed by pressure ulcers, postinfection ulcers, posttraumatic ulcers, burn wounds, malignant ulcers, and venous ulcers.

Conclusion: The point prevalence data serves as a basis for wound care planning. This, in turn, should result in improved wound management grounded in evidence-based practices.