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Published on: March 9, 2019
Weight and pressure ulcer occurrence: a secondary data analysis.
Jan Kottner1, Amit Gefen, Nils Lahmann
1jan.kottner@email.de
International Journal of Nursing Studies
|May 24, 2011
Summary
Thin individuals have a higher risk of developing pressure ulcers on the trunk compared to normal weight and obese patients. Body Mass Index (BMI) does not appear to predict heel pressure ulcer development.
Area of Science:
- Medical Science
- Clinical Research
- Dermatology
Background:
- Prolonged mechanical loads cause pressure ulcers.
- The relationship between overweight and pressure ulcers is unclear.
- Anatomical differences in pressure ulcer sites are often overlooked.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between Body Mass Index (BMI) and pressure ulcers (PUs) on the trunk (superficial category 2 and deep category 3/4).
- To examine the relationship between BMI and PUs on the heels (superficial category 2 and deep category 3/4).
Main Methods:
- Secondary analysis of ten German pressure ulcer prevalence surveys.
- Compared pressure ulcer proportions across 12 WHO BMI groups.
- Analyzed data considering superficial/deep PUs and anatomical locations in 50,446 hospital patients.
Main Results:
- Trunk pressure ulcer proportions were significantly higher in thin individuals compared to normal weight and obese patients.
- No statistically significant differences in heel pressure ulcer proportions were found between BMI groups, with one exception.
- Overall trunk PU prevalence was 2.0% (Cat 2) and 0.9% (Cat 3/4); heel PU prevalence was 0.6% (Cat 2) and 0.6% (Cat 3/4).
Conclusions:
- Thin patients face a higher risk of trunk pressure ulcers (sacrum, ischial tuberosity, trochanter, shoulder) regardless of mobility.
- BMI is not a reliable predictor for heel pressure ulcer development.
- Different anatomical locations may have distinct etiologies and pathogenetic mechanisms for pressure ulcers, necessitating redesigned risk models.
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