Predicting delayed healing: The diagnostic accuracy of a venous leg ulcer risk assessment tool

Abstract

The aim of this study was to validate a newly developed tool that can predict the risk of failure to heal of a venous leg ulcer in 24 weeks. The risk assessment tool was validated, and performance of the tool was assessed using Area Under the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve (AUC) analysis. Retrospective and prospective validation was conducted through multi-site, longitudinal studies. In the retrospective study (n = 318), 30% of ulcers did not heal within 24 weeks, with the tool demonstrating an AUC of 0.80 (95% CI, 0.68-0.93, P <.001) for the total score. In the prospective study across 10 clinical sites (n = 225), 31% (n = 68) of ulcers did not heal within 24 weeks. Participants we..