Pressure sores among hospitalized patients

Annals of Internal Medicine
|September 1, 1986
PubMed

Insights

Approximately 17% of hospitalized patients develop pressure sores or are at risk. Key risk factors for hospital-acquired pressure injuries include hypoalbuminemia, fecal incontinence, and fractures.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Medicine
  • Nursing Research
  • Patient Safety

Background:

  • Hospitalized patients are susceptible to pressure sores.
  • Identifying patients at risk is crucial for prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Determine the prevalence of pressure sores in hospitalized patients.
  • Identify factors associated with pressure sore development.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional survey of 634 adult patients.
  • Logistic regression analysis to identify independent risk factors.

Main Results:

  • 4.7% of patients had pressure sores; 12.3% were at risk.
  • Fecal incontinence, diarrhea, fractures, urinary catheter use, decreased weight, dementia, and hypoalbuminemia were associated with pressure sores.
  • Hypoalbuminemia (OR=3.0), fecal incontinence (OR=3.1), and fractures (OR=5.2) were independent predictors.

Conclusions:

  • 17% of hospitalized patients have or are at risk for pressure sores.
  • Hypoalbuminemia, fecal incontinence, and fractures identify high-risk bedridden patients.
  • These findings can inform targeted prevention strategies.

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