[General and epidemiologic aspects of pressure sores]

Computed analysis showed that 23 of 100 patients immobilized by cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) and 33 (42.3%) of 78 postoperative patients had pressure sores (PS). Mean ages of those with PS in these 2 groups were 70.3 +/- 7.5 and 76.2 +/- 6.5 years, respectively; 31.1% and 38.5% were males and 27.4% and 36.1% were married. The presence of family did not prevent development of PS nor improve results of treatment, perhaps due to low patient motivation caused by poor general condition and depression. Immobilization of CVA patients with and without PS, was 97.6 +/- 154.7 and 34.7 +/- 95.8 days, respectively, and in the postoperative group 50.4 +/- 149.9 and 29.1 +/- 78.1 days. The number of PS in each patient was 2.2 +/- 1.2 and 1.6 +/- 1.0, respectively. PS were localized mostly on buttocks in both groups, but the lateral aspects of the body (trochanters, shoulders) and the heels were affected more often in the CVA than in the postoperative patients. Despite the higher incidence of PS in the postoperative patients and their greater age, their prognosis was better: treatment and hospitalization were shorter, results of treatment, including functional status on discharge, were better; a greater proportion were discharged to home; and mortality was significantly lower. This difference seems to be related to the fact that in the postoperative patients PS were mostly acute decubiti related to surgical stress and drug sedation, while in the post-CVA patients they resulted from the much more prolonged periods of immobilization.