ABSTRACT
Introduction:
Venous ulcers play an important role in patients’ lives, as the deformities caused by this type of wound can lead to various adverse effects, including psychosocial disorders.
Objective:
To evaluate subjective wellness and depression in elderly patients with venous ulcers.
Methods:
This is a primary, descriptive, analytical, and multicenter clinical study involving 55 elderly patients with venous ulcers, undergoing treatment at the Nursing Assistance and Training Center of Clínicas Samuel Libânio Hospital, at the São João Outpatient Clinic of the University of Vale do Sapucaí and at the Primary Healthcare Units of Pouso Alegre city. The study included male and female patients, aged 33 Reichenberg J, Davis M. Venous ulcers. Semin Cutan Med Surg. 2005;24(4):216-26.60 years, and with an ankle-brachial index between 0.8 and 1.0. Data were collected between December 2012 and May 2013, after approval by the research ethics committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences Dr. José Antônio Garcia Coutinho, under recommendation 3.090.46. Sociodemographic data, Yesevage’s reduced version of the Geriatric Depression Scale, and the Subjective Wellness Scale were used. Statistical analyses were carried out with the chi-square and Student’s t tests.
Results:
Most of the study participants were female; 22 (40%) of the patients were aged 60-65 years and 27 (49.10%) were aged 66-70 years. Their income ranged between 1 and 2 minimum wages, and most of them are widowers. Twenty-three (41.82%) elderly patients with venous ulcers had mild to moderate depression levels, and 26 (47.28%) showed severe depression. In the Subjective Wellness Scale, most study participants revealed changes in items 43 (satisfaction with life; 78.20%) and 40 (72.70%).
Conclusion:
This study revealed that study participants had mild to severe depression and decreased quality of life.
Keywords:
Venous ulcer; Leg ulcer; Depression; Quality of life; Elderly