BURDEN OF HARD-TO-HEAL WOUNDS IN SPAIN: CLINICAL AND ECONOMIC IMPACT, AND THE POTENTIAL OF HEALTH TECHNOLOGIES
Author(s)
Carmen Aláez, Ms.1, Concha Toribio, Ms.1, Berta Alcolea, Ms.1, Pablo Encina, Mr.2, Josu Aguirre, PhD3, Mafalda Fontes Molarinho Carmo, Ms.3.
1Fenin, Madrid, Spain, 2IQVIA, Madrid, Spain, 3IQVIA, Barcelona, Spain.
1Fenin, Madrid, Spain, 2IQVIA, Madrid, Spain, 3IQVIA, Barcelona, Spain.
OBJECTIVES: To estimate the clinical and economic burden of hard-to-heal wounds in Spain's National Health System (SNS) and to identify health technologies that may contribute to their reduction and improve patient outcomes.
METHODS: A targeted literature review on prevalence, typology, and resource utilization was conducted. Identified international data on resource utilization were extrapolated to the Spanish context, and an economic model was built using national databases (eSalud, RAE-CMBD), differentiating primary care (PC) and hospital care (HC) settings and constructing minimum-to-maximum scenarios. Results were validated against published national evidence.
RESULTS: An estimated 1,829,362 adults live with chronic, acute, or unspecified wounds in Spain (4.5% of the adult population), with a greater impact on elderly populations and patients with comorbidities such as diabetes or vascular disease. In PC, wounds generated ~15 million annual visits (~6.3 million medical, ~8.9 million nursing), costing ~€930 million. In HC (excluding hospitalizations), ~3.2 million visits were estimated (36,587 specialized nursing, 834,166 clinical attendances, and ~3 million outpatient consultations), with a total cost of ~€453 million. Hospitalizations exceeded 800,000/year, resulting in €3,753 million. The total annual economic burden was estimated at €5,113 million (~€2,808/patient), potentially reaching €6,848 million under maximum scenarios. The calculations excluded diagnostics, devices, wound-care products, and medications, which could entail an additional ~6% to the estimated cost. Evidence supports that technologies such as negative pressure wound therapy, advanced dressings (foams, superabsorbents, contact layers, gelling fibers, hydrogels, and collagen matrices), antimicrobial dressings, cleansing/debridement solutions, and endovascular ablation for venous ulcers reduce complications, hospital stays, readmissions, and amputations, yielding significant cost savings.
CONCLUSIONS: Hard-to-heal wounds constitute a silent epidemic with substantial clinical and economic impact in Spain. Evidence suggests that prioritized adoption of health technologies, combined with systematic measurement, protocol standardization, and professional training, can meaningfully reduce the care burden, improve patient outcomes, and support SNS sustainability.
METHODS: A targeted literature review on prevalence, typology, and resource utilization was conducted. Identified international data on resource utilization were extrapolated to the Spanish context, and an economic model was built using national databases (eSalud, RAE-CMBD), differentiating primary care (PC) and hospital care (HC) settings and constructing minimum-to-maximum scenarios. Results were validated against published national evidence.
RESULTS: An estimated 1,829,362 adults live with chronic, acute, or unspecified wounds in Spain (4.5% of the adult population), with a greater impact on elderly populations and patients with comorbidities such as diabetes or vascular disease. In PC, wounds generated ~15 million annual visits (~6.3 million medical, ~8.9 million nursing), costing ~€930 million. In HC (excluding hospitalizations), ~3.2 million visits were estimated (36,587 specialized nursing, 834,166 clinical attendances, and ~3 million outpatient consultations), with a total cost of ~€453 million. Hospitalizations exceeded 800,000/year, resulting in €3,753 million. The total annual economic burden was estimated at €5,113 million (~€2,808/patient), potentially reaching €6,848 million under maximum scenarios. The calculations excluded diagnostics, devices, wound-care products, and medications, which could entail an additional ~6% to the estimated cost. Evidence supports that technologies such as negative pressure wound therapy, advanced dressings (foams, superabsorbents, contact layers, gelling fibers, hydrogels, and collagen matrices), antimicrobial dressings, cleansing/debridement solutions, and endovascular ablation for venous ulcers reduce complications, hospital stays, readmissions, and amputations, yielding significant cost savings.
CONCLUSIONS: Hard-to-heal wounds constitute a silent epidemic with substantial clinical and economic impact in Spain. Evidence suggests that prioritized adoption of health technologies, combined with systematic measurement, protocol standardization, and professional training, can meaningfully reduce the care burden, improve patient outcomes, and support SNS sustainability.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
MT46
Topic
Medical Technologies
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas