Assessment of Risk factors for pressure ulcers among elderly patients

Abstract

Pressure ulcers (PUs) are localized injuries to the skin and/or underlying tissue that usually occur over a bony prominence as a result of pressure. Moisture, friction, and shear contribute to the development of pressure ulcers. The most common areas for pressure ulcers include the sacrum, coccyx, heels, and ear. Other sites such as the elbows, knees, ankles or the back of the cranium can be affected also.

The study aim was to assess the risk factors for pressure ulcer development among hospitalized elderly patients.

A case control study was conducted recruited 100 male and female patients ≥ 60 years old. The study was performed in Ain Shams University Hospitals and in Suez Canal University Hospitals. 47 Patients were collected from intensive care units (34 from Ain Shams University and 13 patients from Suez Canal University Hospitals) and 53 from wards (including 26 patients from Ain Shams University and 27 patients from Suez Canal University Hospitals). All Patients were then divided according to the presence or absence of pressure ulcers into: Case (Group A): 50 elderly patients with pressure ulcers. Control (Group B): 50 elderly patients without pressure ulcers matched for age and sex. Thirty patients of “Group A” already had pressure ulcers on admission (community acquired pressure ulcers “CAPU”) (Group A1) and twenty patients acquired pressure ulcers during hospitalizations (hospital acquired pressure ulcers “HAPU”) (Group A2).

All patients subjected to comprehensive geriat