Epidemiological Profile of Chronic Wounds in an Indian Population: A Community-Based Cross-Sectional Observational Study.

Introduction A wound that has not healed in a timely and organized manner to maintain its anatomical and functional integrity is considered chronic. It can last anywhere from four weeks to over three months and could be caused by trauma, diabetes, vascular disease, infection, or pressure. The primary objective of the study was to determine the prevalence of wounds in a rural and urban community in India, and the secondary objective was to evaluate the effect of various chronic wounds on quality of life (QoL) as assessed by the Short-Form Health Survey-36 (SF-36) questionnaire. Materials and methods The present study is a cross-sectional analytical study done between June 2022 and December 2023, and a total of 10,003 sample population was screened in Varanasi district, Uttar Pradesh, India. The study involved conducting a door-to-door survey of the population sample under interest based on a stratified sampling technique. During the survey, the epidemiological profile of the sample population, a detailed history, and clinical examination findings were recorded in a proforma. The reports of relevant diagnostic investigations were also recorded.  Results The overall prevalence of chronic wounds was 1.89 per 1000 (19/10003) population. The prevalence of wounds in urban areas was 1.57 per 1000 (11/6984) population, while that in rural communities was 2.64 per 1000 (8/3019) population. Of the total 19 patients with chronic wounds, the majority of the patients, i.e., seven each (36.8%), had diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) and neglected/uncared trauma as the etiology for chronic wounds. The remaining five (5.3%) patients were equally divided between cellulitis, venous ulcers, trophic ulcers, tubercular ulcers, and malignancy as the etiology for chronic wounds. The QoL data suggested that 11 (57.9%) patients reported their general health status as fair with wounds, followed by five (26.3%) reporting their general health status as poor. Only three (15.8%) of the patients with wounds reported their general health condition as good. There was no significant difference between the QoL of rural and urban patients with chronic wounds. The overall prevalence of wounds has decreased from 15.03 to 1.89 per 1000 people in the survey locality. The switch from opting for home-based remedies to supervised care under the clinician (be it in a private or public setting) clearly indicates raised awareness regarding the management of wounds, and with time, people have shown an increased interest in healthcare facility treatment under supervision over adopting home remedies for wound treatment. The same domain may be attributed to the prompt management and efficacy of the management protocols by the treating physicians in India. Conclusion  The findings of the present study regarding the incidence and prevalence of chronic wounds in connection to demographic factors are important when allocating resources and making healthcare plans. The present study conveys a clear message to healthcare practitioners about the necessity of carrying out large-scale epidemiological research on this topic and offers a solid foundation for future studies.