Impaired wound healing in the aged presents both major clinical and economic issues. With the constantly rising percentage of older people in the general population and the large cost of treating wounds within this specific patient group, the importance of examining and understanding the correlation between aging and wound healing cannot be undervalued. The process of wound healing is altered in aged individuals, historically being considered as defective; however there is now a general consensus that the healing in the elderly may be delayed, though the final result is qualitatively similar to that in younger generations. (Gosain and DiPietro, 2004)
Multiple factors can lead to impaired wound healing. In general terms, the factors that directly influence repair can be categorised into local and systemic. Local factors are those that directly influence the characteristics of the wound itself, while systemic factors are overall health or disease state of the individual that may affect his or her ability to heal. Increased age is a major risk factor for impaired wound healing. Many clinical and animal studies at both cellular and molecular level have examined age-related changes and delays in wound healing. It is commonly recognised that in healthy older adults, the effect of aging causes a temporal delay in wound healing, but no lessening in the terms of quality of healing. (Gosain and DiPietro, 2004)
Multiple factors can lead to impaired wound healing. In general terms, the factors that directly influence repair can be categorised into local and systemic. Local factors are those that directly influence the characteristics of the wound itself, while systemic factors are overall health or disease state of the individual that may affect his or her ability to heal. Increased age is a major risk factor for impaired wound healing. Many clinical and animal studies at both cellular and molecular level have examined age-related changes and delays in wound healing. It is commonly recognised that in healthy older adults, the effect of aging causes a temporal delay in wound healing, but no lessening in the terms of quality of healing. (Gosain and DiPietro, 2004)