[Pressure ulcer prevalence: comparison between nursing homes and hospitals]

The aim of the study was to compare pressure ulcer prevalence rates in nursing homes and hospitals and to answer the question in which setting pressure ulcers develop more. In Germany in 2009 a nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted in 76 nursing homes and 15 hospitals. The prevalence of pressure ulcers grade 2, 3, 4 or deep tissue injury in persons at pressure ulcer riskwas 3.9 percent (95 percent Cl 3.3 percent to 4.6 percent) in nursing homes and 7.9 percent (95 percent Cl 6.5 percent to 9.7 percent) in hospitals. Pressure ulcer prevalence in the group of immobile persons was 5.7 percent (95 percent Cl 4.7 percent to 6.9 percent) in nursing homes and 15l3 percent (95 percent Cl 12.1 percent to 19.0 percent) in hospitals. Approximately half of all pressure ulcers developed in the respective setting but statistically significant more immobile patients developed pressure ulcers in hospitals [5.8 percent (95 percent Cl 3.9 to 8.5)] as compared to immobile residents in nursing homes [3.3 percent (95 percent Cl 2.6 to 4.3 percent)]. The proportion of pressure ulcers that were labelled as "unknown origin" was statistically significant higher in hospitals. Results apply as well to data on individual level as on institutional level. Findings suggest that immobile patients in hospitals have a higher probability to develop pressure ulcers than immobile residents in nursing home.