Ankle-Brachial Index: Implications for Leg Ulcer Healing Time
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.12707/RVI25.38.41357Keywords:
ankle brachial index, leg ulcer;, wound healing, nursingAbstract
Background: Venous leg ulcers (VLUs) are the most common chronic type of leg ulcer. The ankle-brachial index (ABI) is a simple, non-invasive method that can be used to rule out arterial disease, ensuring safe care.
Objective: To determine whether the ABI predicts healing time in individuals with VLUs.
Methodology: A quantitative, descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional, and retrospective study was conducted with a non-randomized convenience sample collected from two complex wound treatment units. Documentary data was collected using a questionnaire between January 2021 and December 2022.
Results: VLUs were the most prevalent (74.5%). The mean ABI value was 1.02. The median healing time for VLUs was 67 days. There was a negative and moderate correlation between healing time and ABI (ρ = -0.34).
Conclusion: The lower the ABI value, the longer the required healing time. Due to the moderate correlation, other clinical variables must be considered when planning nursing interventions.
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References
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