Chronic ulcers cause a significant burden to patients and society. This study evaluated long-term mortality among patients with chronic ulcers diagnosed at a dermatology clinic between 1980 and 2010. The mortality risk and causes of death of 3,489 patients with ulcers were compared with a matched reference group of 10,399 individuals, and factors associated with increased mortality risk were examined. Long-term mortality was increased in patients with chronic ulcers (hazard ratio (HR) 1.74) and in both males and females (HR 1.99 and 1.62, respectively). Diabetes was the most relevant underlying cause of death (HR 8.98), and of the immediate causes of death, sepsis was strongly associated with mortality (HR 5.86). The mortality risk was highest among those with arterial ulcers (HR 2.85), but also increased in patients with atypical, mixed and venous leg ulcers. In conclusion, patients with chronic ulcers are at an increased mortality risk irrespective of age, sex and ulcer aetiology.
Keywords: diabetes mellitus; leg ulcer; peripheral arterial disease; sepsis; skin ulcer.