The Silent Epidemic: How Untreated Wounds Are Costing the U.S. Billions

In the shadows of America’s healthcare crisis lies a growing, costly, and often overlooked epidemic: untreated wounds. From chronic ulcers and diabetic foot sores to pressure injuries and post-surgical complications, unmanaged wounds affect millions of Americans each year and burden the nation’s healthcare system with tens of billions of dollars in preventable costs. The scale of the problem is staggering, yet it remains largely invisible to the general public. That is beginning to change thanks to the advocacy and educational efforts of Cynthia Weyinmi, a leading voice in wound care awareness and reform.

Wounds are not just a medical issue—they are an economic and systemic one. Studies estimate that chronic wounds alone impact nearly 6.5 million Americans, generating more than $28 billion in Medicare spending annually. These wounds often stem from underlying conditions like diabetes, obesity, and vascular disease and disproportionately affect older adults, the immobile, and marginalized communities. Without proper intervention, minor injuries can escalate into life-threatening infections, amputations, prolonged hospital stays, and lifelong disability.

Despite their prevalence, wounds remain underdiagnosed and undertreated. There is no federal mandate requiring hospitals or care facilities to track wound outcomes, and many healthcare providers lack adequate training in wound prevention and management. Patients are frequently discharged without proper follow-up, and home care workers often lack the tools or knowledge to handle complex wound scenarios. The result is a cycle of neglect that leads to worsening outcomes, preventable deaths, and mounting public health costs.

Cynthia Weyinmi is working to disrupt that cycle. A seasoned healthcare advocate and educator, Weyinmi has made it her mission to raise national awareness about wound care—starting with the basics. Through community outreach, public speaking, and educational campaigns, she is working to reframe wounds not as isolated medical events, but as public health indicators requiring urgent attention.

Weyinmi’s efforts stem from years of firsthand experience witnessing how a lack of wound education and resources has impacted both patients and providers. Her advocacy aims to empower individuals, equip caregivers, and influence policy to prioritize early intervention and consistent wound care management. By elevating conversations about a topic many avoid, she is helping families, facilities, and lawmakers recognize the critical need for change.

At the heart of her campaign is a call for systemic reform—more training for healthcare professionals, more funding for research and innovation, better integration of wound care in primary care settings, and more robust data collection to track outcomes. Weyinmi also emphasizes the importance of community education, believing that families and caregivers must be armed with the knowledge to identify early signs of wound deterioration and understand when to seek professional help.

Her work is part of a broader movement to destigmatize chronic wounds and advocate for a more inclusive, responsive healthcare system. As the U.S. population ages and chronic conditions become more prevalent, the need for comprehensive wound care will only grow. Without action, the costs—human and financial—will continue to rise.

Weyinmi’s mission is both personal and national: to shine a light on what has remained too long in the dark. Through education, advocacy, and compassion, she is challenging a system to do better for its most vulnerable. The silent epidemic of untreated wounds may not yet be headline news, but thanks to leaders like Cynthia Weyinmi, it is no longer being ignored.