Human Wound and Its Burden: Updated 2022 Compendium of Estimates

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Significance: Chronic wounds affect 10.5 million (up 2.3 million from the 2014 update) of U.S. Medicare beneficiaries. Chronic wounds impact the quality of life of nearly 2.5% of the total population of the United States. This fraction is larger in the elderly. These wounds can lead to a range of complications and health care costs. Given the aging population, the continued threat of diabetes and obesity worldwide, and the persistent problem of infection, it is expected that chronic wounds will continue to be a substantial clinical, social, and economic challenge. Disparities in the prevalence and management of chronic wounds exist, with underserved communities and marginalized populations often facing greater challenges in accessing quality wound care. These disparities exacerbate the public health burden. Recent Advances: U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services had proposed revision of its local coverage determination limiting the use of skin substitute grafts/cellular and/or tissue-based products for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers and venous leg ulcers in the U.S. Medicare population. In response to the comment phase, this proposal has been put on hold. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has renewed its focus on addressing nonhealing chronic wounds and has outlined efforts to address identified barriers to product development for nonhealing chronic wo

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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