637Rev Bras Enferm, Brasília 2012 jul-ago; 65 (4) Submissão: 04-03-2011Aprovação: 19-08-2012 RESUMO A úlcera venosa representa um desafi o para os profi ssionais de saúde, por ser um agravo crônico, recorrente e com impacto biopsicossocial. Os objetivos deste estudo foram caracterizar as úlceras venosas dos usuários atendidos em salas de curativos da rede municipal de saúde e descrever o tratamento recebido. Esta pesquisa descritiva, realizada no período de outubro de 2009 a julho de 2010 incluiu 58 pessoas. Os dados foram coletados mediante protocolo que envolveu entrevista, exame físico, aplicação de escala, registro fotográfi co da lesão e planigrafi a. Os resultados mostraram lesões com más condições de cicatrização e o tratamento em desacordo com as principais recomendações da literatura na área. Conclui-se que é necessário repensar a organização dos serviços para atender melhor essa população. Descritores: Úlcera Varicosa; Perfi l de Saúde; Saúde Pública; Cuidado de Enfermagem.ABSTRACT Venous ulcer represents a challenge for health's professionals, because it's a chronic injury, recurrent and with biologic and psychosocial impact. The aim of this study was to characterize the venous ulcers of outpatients attended in curative rooms of the municipal health network and describe the treatment received. This descriptive study, carried out from October 2009 to July 2010 included 58 people. Data were collected using protocol that involved an interview, physical examination, application of scale, photographic record of the lesion and planigraphy. The results showed lesions with poor healing and treatment in violation of the main recommendations of the literature in the area. We conclude that it is necessary to rethink the organization of services to better serve this population. Key words: Varicose Ulcer; Health Profi le; Public Health; Nursing Care. RESUMENÚlcera venosa representa un desafío para los profesionales de salud, siendo una lesión crónica, recurrente y con impacto biopsicosocial. El objetivo de este estudio fue caracterizar las úlceras venosas de los usuarios atendidos en salas de curativos de la red municipal de salud. Esta pesquisa descriptiva, realizada entre octubre 2009 y julio 2010 incluyó a 58 personas. Los datos fueron recolectados mediante protocolo que incluyó entrevista, examen físico, aplicación de escala, registro fotográfi co de la lesión y planigraphia. Los resultados mostraron lesiones con mala cicatrización y tratamiento con violación de las principales recomendaciones de la literatura en el área. Se concluye que es necesario repensar la organización de los servicios para servir mejor a esta población. Palabras clave: Úlcera Varicosa; Perfi l de Salud; Salud Pública; Atención de Enfermería.

OBJECTIVE To describe the dietary habits and anthropometric and biochemical parameters of patients with active venous leg ulcers and to verify the association of these variables with wound duration and area. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS A cross-sectional study conducted with 33 participants diagnosed with venous leg ulcers in outpatient care. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Socioeconomic data, anthropometric parameters, biochemical parameters, food consumption, and wound characteristics were analyzed by an interprofessional team. MAIN RESULTS Participants were an average of 58 ± 13 years, 57.6% women, 84.8% overweight, and had a median wound duration of 10 months (range, 1–192 months) and an average wound area of 5 cm2 (range, 0.22–61.1 cm2). Diets were typically hypocaloric and hypoproteic, with a low amount of vitamin A and magnesium. Wound duration was negatively associated with polyunsaturated fat intake (P = .032), whereas wound area was significantly associated with lipid intake (P = .002) and C-reactive protein (P = .040). CONCLUSIONS Patients with active venous leg ulcers were overweight (leading to systemic inflammation) and had low consumption of calories, protein, and micronutrients that could support cicatrization. Wound area was associated with a high-fat diet, whereas wound duration was negatively associated with polyunsaturated fat intake.