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Chronic wound repair and healing in older adults: Current status and future research
Author(s) -
Gould Lisa,
Abadir Peter,
Brem Harold,
Carter Marissa,
ConnerKerr Teresa,
Davidson Jeff,
DiPietro Luisa,
Falanga Vincent,
Fife Caroline,
Gardner Sue,
Grice Elizabeth,
Harmon John,
Hazzard William R.,
High Kevin P.,
Houghton Pamela,
Jacobson Nasreen,
Kirsner Robert S.,
Kovacs Elizabeth J.,
Margolis David,
McFarland Horne Frances,
Reed May J.,
Sullivan Dennis H.,
Thom Stephen,
TomicCanic Marjana,
Walston Jeremy,
Whitney JoAnne,
Williams John,
Zieman Susan,
Schmader Kenneth
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
wound repair and regeneration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.847
H-Index - 109
eISSN - 1524-475X
pISSN - 1067-1927
DOI - 10.1111/wrr.12245
Subject(s) - medicine , wound healing , clinical trial , chronic wound , population , intensive care medicine , standardization , gerontology , surgery , pathology , environmental health , political science , law
The incidence of chronic wounds is increased among older adults, and the impact of chronic wounds on quality of life is particularly profound in this population. It is well established that wound healing slows with age. However, the basic biology underlying chronic wounds and the influence of age‐associated changes on wound healing are poorly understood. Most studies have used in vitro approaches and various animal models, but observed changes translate poorly to human healing conditions. The impact of age and accompanying multi‐morbidity on the effectiveness of existing and emerging treatment approaches for chronic wounds is also unknown, and older adults tend to be excluded from randomized clinical trials. Poorly defined outcomes and variables, lack of standardization in data collection, and variations in the definition, measurement, and treatment of wounds also hamper clinical studies. The A ssociation of S pecialty P rofessors, in conjunction with the N ational I nstitute on A ging and the W ound H ealing S ociety, held a workshop, summarized in this paper, to explore the current state of knowledge and research challenges, engage investigators across disciplines, and identify key research questions to guide future study of age‐associated changes in chronic wound healing.