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Outpatient care for venous leg ulceration in Germany: a retrospective claims data analysis

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Outpatient care of venous leg ulcers (VLU) is a problem of high medical and health economic relevance. Treatment is often inconsistent and not guideline-compliant. The project Ulcus Cruris Care investigated the VLU outpatient care situation in Germany. - PATIENTS AND METHO...

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Main Authors: Weller, Lisa (Author) , Poß-Doering, Regina (Author) , Grobe, Thomas (Author) , Fleischhauer, Thomas (Author) , Laux, Gunter (Author) , Frasch, Jona (Author) , Altiner, Attila (Author) , Protz, Kerstin (Author) , Szecsenyi, Joachim (Author) , Senft, Jonas (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 12 March 2026
In: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft
Year: 2026, Pages: 1-8
ISSN:1610-0387
DOI:10.1111/ddg.70021
Online Access:Verlag, kostenfrei, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1111/ddg.70021
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Author Notes:Lisa Weller, Regina Poß-Doering, Thomas Grobe, Thomas Fleischhauer, Gunter Laux, Jona Frasch, Attila Altiner, Kerstin Protz, Joachim Szecsenyi, Jonas D. Senft
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Summary:BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Outpatient care of venous leg ulcers (VLU) is a problem of high medical and health economic relevance. Treatment is often inconsistent and not guideline-compliant. The project Ulcus Cruris Care investigated the VLU outpatient care situation in Germany. - PATIENTS AND METHODS: Reimbursement data of 40,046 patient cases (2015-2019) with VLU diagnosis from a statutory health insurer (AOK Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany) were retrospectively analyzed. Outcome assessment was based on prescriptions, medical aids, nursing care, use of compression devices, surgical procedures and treatment costs. - RESULTS: 47.3% (n  =  7,581) of patients without contraindication received a compression device within 90 days. 2.3% (n  =  135) received surgical truncal vein interventions. 14.1% (n  =  771) received consistent compression therapy associated with faster wound healing (121.6 ± 86.2 vs. 188.1 ± 164.2 days, p < 0.001), lower total costs (4,280 ± 5,326 € vs. 5,683 ± 9,657 €, p < 0.001) and lower disease-specific costs (2,498 ± 2,785 € vs. 2,797 ± 5,145 €, p  =  0.017) versus no or unsteady treatment. - CONCLUSIONS: In outpatient VLU care around 80% of patients do not receive consistent compression therapy and are therefore not adequately treated. There is an urgent need for action to improve treatment of patients with VLU in Germany.
Item Description:Gesehen am 19.05.2026
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1610-0387
DOI:10.1111/ddg.70021

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