Which of the following is a systemic factor affecting wound healing?

• A. Pressure
• B. Age
• C. Edema
• D. Biofilm

Answer: (B)

Healing relies on factors that come from the whole body versus factors tied to a specific wound site. Age is a systemic factor because it reflects the body's overall capacity to repair tissue. As people age, several healing processes slow down: the inflammatory response may be less robust, fibroblast activity and collagen synthesis decline, and new blood vessel formation (angiogenesis) slows. These changes lead to slower wound closure, weaker tensile strength, and longer remodeling. Nutrition, immune function, and chronic disease burden that often accompany aging also influence healing on a systemic level.

In contrast, the other factors act locally at the wound site. Pressure causes decreased blood flow to the wound area from external compression, a local mechanical issue. Edema—swelling around the wound—impairs oxygen and nutrient diffusion locally and can increase tissue pressure at the wound bed. Biofilm is a localized bacterial community that forms on the wound surface, hindering healing and sustaining inflammation. Because these primarily affect the immediate wound environment rather than the body's overall healing capacity, they’re considered local factors.

So aging stands out as the systemic factor that affects wound healing.