Predictors of pressure injury development in critically ill adults: A retrospective cohort study

The purpose of this research was to identify predictors of pressure injury, using data from the electronic health records of critically ill adults.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using logistic regression models to examine risk factors adjusted for age, gender, race/ethnicity and length of stay.

The study cohort included 1587 adults in intensive care units within an urban academic medical centre.

The presence or absence of a hospital-acquired pressure injury was determined during monthly skin integrity prevalence surveys. All pressure injuries were independently confirmed by two Certified Wound Care Nurses.

Eighty-one (5.1%) of the 1587 cohort patients developed pressure injuries. After adjusting for confounders, the clinical variables associated with pressure injury development included mean arterial pressure <60 mmHg and lowest Total Braden score up to two weeks prior to the date of HAPI development or date of prevalence survey for the comparison group.

This study provides a more comprehensive understanding about pressure injury risk in critically ill adults, identifying extrinsic and intrinsic factors associated with pressure injury development. Prospective multisite studies are needed to further examine these potential contributors to pressure injury development within the context of adherence to prevention interventions.