Hospital-Acquired Skin Injuries Associated With End-of-Life in Critically Ill Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Critical Care Medicine
• Wound Care
• Patient Outcomes

Background:

• Hospital-acquired pressure injuries are a concern in acutely ill patients.
• These injuries can be associated with significant morbidity and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify patient and wound characteristics linked to 30-day mortality in critically ill individuals.
• To understand risk factors for mortality following pressure injury development in hospitalized patients.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study was conducted.
• Data from 270 critically ill patients with pressure injuries were analyzed.
• Electronic medical records were used to extract demographic, clinical, and outcome data.

Main Results:

• 36.3% of patients experienced 30-day mortality after skin injury identification.
• Significant risk factors included race, age, renal failure, sepsis, shock, vasopressor use, ICU stay, and injury stage.
• Bivariate analysis identified these key predictors of mortality.

Conclusions:

• Skin injuries in acute care settings are clinically significant and associated with increased 30-day mortality.
• Early recognition of skin injuries related to clinical deterioration is crucial.
• The findings support timely goals of care discussions and palliative care consultations for patient-centered care.