Sociodemographic factors in chronic leg ulceration

Summary Background While there is a commonly held belief that leg ulceration is associated with social factors, the evidence to support this is mainly anecdotal. Objectives To determine deficits in sociodemographic status in patients with chronic leg ulceration. Methods In a matched case–control study carried out in community leg ulcer clinics and participants’ homes within Wandsworth Primary Care Trust, patients with chronic leg ulceration were compared with age‐ and sex‐matched community controls drawn from general practitioner registers. Main outcome measures were the prevalence of social class, ethnicity, marital status, living status and social support. Data were analysed by conditional logistic regression. Results In all, 113 patients were identified and matched to controls. Patients had a mean age of 75 years (range 31–94), with 72 (64%) being women. The ulcer had been present for a median of 8 months (range 0·8–144), and 29% of patients had an area of ulceration >10 cm2 (range 0·5–171·5). Being Afro‐Caribbean increased the risk of leg ulceration eightfold (95% confidence interval, CI 1·83–34·75; P