Úlcera de perna: um estudo de casos em Juiz de Fora-MG (Brasil) e região Leg ulcer: an observational study in Juiz de Fora, MG (Brazil) and region

FUNDAMENTOS: Úlcera de perna (UP) caracteriza-se por perda do tegumento nas extremidades dos membros inferiores causada geralmente por disfunção vascular. OBJETIVOS: Caracterizar clínica e epidemiologicamente a amostra populacional com UP atendida nos centros de saúde de Juiz de Fora. PACIENTES E MÉTODOS: Submetidos ao protocolo clínico 124 pacientes com UP, de Juiz de Fora e região de janeiro/1999 a agosto/2001. RESULTADOS: A média de idade foi 64 anos, 65,3% do sexo feminino, média de 3,7 indivíduos/família e renda inferior a R$540,00 (86,8%). Associavam-se às úlceras insuficiência venosa (90,3%), hipertensão arterial sistêmica (54%), obesidade (20,2%) e diabetes mellitus (16,1%). A associação insuficiência venosa e hipertensão arterial foi freqüente (43,7%) e significante (pBACKGROUND: Leg ulcers are characterized as tissue loss in the lower extremities, generally caused by vascular dysfunction. OBJECTIVES: Verify the clinical and epidemiological profiles of the population sample with leg ulcers treated at the health centers of Juiz de Fora (Brazil). MATERIAL AND METHODS: 124 leg-wound patients were evaluated between January 1999 and August 2001 and submitted to a clinical protocol. RESULTS: The mean age was 64 years, with females in the majority (65.3%). The mean family composition was 3.7 persons, and family income was around US$200.00 (86.8%). Venous insufficiency (90.3%), systemic arterial hypertension (54%), obesity (20.2%) and diabetes mellitus (16.1%) were the most frequent events associated with the ulcers. An association of venous insufficiency and arterial hypertension was frequent in 43.7% of the sample, and significant (p