Risk factors affecting pressure ulcer healing: Impact of prescription medications

Treatment of pressure ulcers requires removing the cause as well as eliminating factors that interfere with healing. There are no reports on the effect of medications prescribed for underlying diseases on pressure ulcers. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to investigate whether medications prescribed to patients with pressure ulcers could be a factor that influences pressure ulcer healing. We retrospectively reviewed the records of patients with pressure ulcer who were admitted to Chiba University Hospital between June 2009 and June 2015. A total of 110 patients were included in this study. In univariate analysis, there were significant differences in corticosteroid use and total caloric intake. Logistic regression analysis was performed for four factors, including corticosteroid use and total caloric intake, which were significant at P < .05, plus the two factors malignancy and body mass index, which were previously reported as factors that may affect pressure ulcer healing. The results showed that corticosteroid use [odds ratio (OR) 0.205, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.046 to 0.911, P = .037] and total caloric intake [OR 1.002, 95% CI: 1.000 to 1.003, P = .006] were significant risk factors influencing pressure ulcer healing. This study revealed that use of corticosteroids and total caloric intake could be risk factors affecting pressure ulcer healing. These findings provide useful information for the management of pressure ulcer.