Burden and Determinants of Pressure Injuries in Adult Hospitalized Patients in Oman: A Multicenter Epidemiological...

Pressure injuries are a preventable source of morbidity, mortality, and excess healthcare costs among hospitalized adults. They represent a significant burden in acute and critical care settings in the Eastern Mediterranean region, yet data from Oman remain limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and burden of pressure injuries and to identify their clinical determinants among adult hospitalized patients in Oman.

A multicenter, descriptive correlational cross-sectional study was conducted in four tertiary hospitals in Oman. A total of 169 adult inpatients were assessed using standardized pressure injury definitions and staging criteria. Point and periodic prevalence of pressure injuries, including hospital- and community-acquired cases, were calculated over a three-month data collection period. Demographic and clinical data (comorbidities, hemoglobin levels, prior pressure injury history, ventilator use) were extracted from medical records. Chi-square tests and multiple logistic regression were used to identify factors independently associated with the presence of pressure injuries.

The overall point prevalence of pressure injuries was 8.7%, including 4.2% hospital-acquired and 4.7% community-acquired cases; periodic prevalence over the three-month study period was also estimated to capture pressure injuries occurring at any time during hospitalization. Most lesions were located over bony prominences and ranged from stage 1 to stage 4. In multivariable analysis, lower hemoglobin levels (odds ratio [OR] 0.059, p = 0.019), prior pressure injury history (OR 0.156, p = 0.003), cancer diagnosis (OR 4.328, 95% CI: 1.225-15.291, p = 0.023), and ventilator use (OR 0.211, p = 0.001) were significantly associated with pressure injury development.

Pressure injuries represent a considerable burden among adult hospitalized patients in Oman, with almost half of cases being hospital-acquired and therefore potentially preventable. Identified determinants particularly anemia, cancer, previous pressure injury, and mechanical ventilation highlight the need for targeted risk stratification and intensified preventive measures in high-risk groups. Integrating routine risk assessment, nutritional optimization, and device-related pressure relief into standard care may reduce pressure injury occurrence and improve patient outcomes.