Clinical Characteristics of Patients With Pressure Ulcers: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

Abstract

Objective:  Pressure sores cause patients to lose their independence, social isolation, pain, decreased quality of life, prolonged hospitalization, increased health care costs, morbidity and mortality rates. Therefore, pressure ulcer rate is one of the important indicators of health care quality in health care institutions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics of patients who were followed up for pressure sores in a training and research hospital between 2021 and 2022.

Materials and Methods: The study was designed as a retrospective cross-sectional study. Data were obtained from Clinical Pressure Ulcer Rate Data Collection forms. SPSS IBM Statistics 25 Program was used to analyze the patient data. Descriptive statistical methods (frequency, percentage, mean, median, minimum-maximum values) and Spearman correlation nonparametric analysis methods were used to analyze the data.

Results: The data of 264 patients were evaluated within the scope of the study. The majority of the patients (52,3%) were female, and the mean age of these patients was 70,78 years. The mean duration of hospitalization was 34,7 days, and 11,6% of these patients were diagnosed with Covid-19 and 10.2% with CVD (cerebrovascular diseases). The mean score of the Braden Risk Assessment Scale was 10,6, 16,3% of the patients recovered partially or completely, and 25,6% of the patients were exited.

Conclusion:  Pressure sores occur mostly in the sacrum, shoulder, heel, auricle, gluteal region, trochanteric region, lower extremities and ischial region of inpatients. The most important care in the prevention of these wounds is frequent position changes and holistic care of the patient. The rate of pressure sores in hospitals is an indicator of nursing care quality and it is considered important to increase the quality of care.