The Disease Burden of Chronic Wounds and Diabetic Foot Ulcers

Chronic wounds, including diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs), represent a significant and growing public health challenge worldwide. These wounds are associated with delayed healing, frequent complications, high rates of infection, and substantial healthcare utilization. In patients with diabetes, non-healing wounds contribute to increased morbidity, risk of amputation, and rising direct and indirect healthcare costs.

Diabetes is a leading risk factor for the development of chronic wounds, particularly diabetic foot ulcers. Impaired circulation, neuropathy, inflammation, and altered cellular signaling contribute to delayed wound healing in patients with diabetes, making DFUs difficult to treat and prone to recurrence. As diabetes prevalence continues to rise, the burden of chronic wounds on patients and healthcare systems is expected to increase.

The treatment of diabetic foot ulcers is associated with substantial healthcare expenditures, including outpatient wound care visits, hospitalizations, surgical interventions, and long-term management. Chronic wounds often require prolonged treatment courses, repeated procedures, and intensive monitoring, contributing to significant direct medical costs as well as indirect costs related to lost productivity and reduced quality of life.

Despite advances in wound care, many patients with diabetic foot ulcers fail to achieve durable wound closure with existing treatment options. The complexity of chronic wound biology and the limitations of current therapies highlight the ongoing unmet medical need.