Pressure sore prevalence: a national survey

A cross-sectional nation-wide sample was used to determine the point prevalence and grading of pressure sores in patients in all hospitals in Iceland (22 hospitals). The pressure sore prevalence was 8.9% (n = 57 patients), 7.12% for women (n = 26) and 11.2% for men (n = 31); the mean age for both sexes with pressure sores was 78.4 years. Grade I sores were most frequently identified and Grade IV the least. Eighty-five per cent of pressure sores were located below the waist. 'No dressings' and occlusive dressings were the treatment of choice for pressure sores. Results from this study are important for international comparisons.