Patient risk factors for pressure ulcer development: systematic review

Area of Science:

• Clinical Medicine
• Nursing Research
• Gerontology

Background:

• Pressure ulcers (PUs) are a significant healthcare concern, affecting patient outcomes and increasing healthcare costs.
• Identifying reliable risk factors is crucial for effective prevention strategies in diverse adult patient populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review and identify independent predictors of pressure ulcer development.
• To synthesize evidence from observational studies to inform clinical practice and future research.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of 54 observational studies involving 34,449 patients was conducted.
• Studies were screened, data extracted, and quality appraised using a defined framework, with narrative synthesis.
• Databases were searched until March 2010, with no language restrictions.

Main Results:

• Mobility/activity, perfusion (including diabetes), and skin/pressure ulcer status emerged as primary risk factor domains.
• Skin moisture, age, hematological measures, nutrition, and general health status were also identified as important factors.
• Limited evidence suggests race or gender are significant predictors; body temperature and immunity require further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Pressure ulcer development results from a complex interplay of multiple factors, not a single cause.
• Over-interpretation of individual study results should be avoided; a synthesis of evidence provides a more reliable assessment of risk.
• This review highlights key risk domains and areas for future research to improve patient susceptibility assessment.