Factors Influencing Pressure Injury Development and Survival Duration in Adults Admitted to the ICU: A Retrospective...

Background: Individuals receiving intensive care are particularly vulnerable to developing pressure sores. This heightened risk necessitates a thorough understanding of relevant risk factors and the time at which these injuries manifest, facilitating effective prevention. Objective: This investigation, structured as a retrospective cohort study, aimed to assess the duration until pressure sore onset and identify contributing risk factors among 50 adult patients in an intensive care unit (ICU), observed over 12 weeks. Methodology: Our analysis employed the Kaplan-Meier approach for survival analysis. We then used the log-rank test to determine significant differences in survival curves. We utilized COX proportional regression analysis to explore the associations between various factors and the development of pressure injuries during the ICU stay. Results: Data from 50 adult ICU patients showed that 29 patients developed pressure sores. Coccyx (44%) and back (6%) were most affected. The median survival time from ICU admission to the final skin examination for pressure sore development was 3 days. The multivariable Cox regression analysis revealed that males with a high BMI, increased systolic blood pressure, elevated albumin levels, and a more extended ICU stay were at a significantly higher risk of developing pressure ulcers (p-value < 0.05). Conclusions: The research highlights the need to prioritize males with high BMI, high blood pressure, and high albumin patients in preventing pressure sores in the ICU, with an extended ICU stay significantly increasing the risk. This information can be utilized to develop clinical guidelines for reducing pressure sore incidence and improving patient care.