Prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospitalized adult patients in Bursa, Turkey: A multicentre, point prevalence study

Rationale, aims, and objectives Pressure ulcers (PUs), which are preventable complications, increase the cost of health care and the risk of prolonged hospital stay, as well as morbidity and mortality. In this study, we aimed to describe the prevalence, clinical features, and risk factors for PUs among hospitalized patients. Method This study was cross-sectional and conducted over a single day in all the care units. Data were recorded on a patient observation form that included demographic data, diagnosis of admission to the hospital or intensive care unit (ICU), comorbidity and chronic diseases, location, stage of PU, and Braden Scale score. Acute physiology and chronic health evaluation (APACHE) II score, Glasgow coma score (GCS), PaO2/FiO(2) ratio, and albumin level were recorded for ICU patients. Results A total of 1548 adult patients participated in the study. Of these patients, 177 (11.43%) had PU. The patients with PU had more advanced age, lower body mass index (BMI), and longer duration of hospital and ICU stay (for all P = .001). Evaluation of PU in the first 24 hours after hospital admission and the last PU evaluation time also showed a significant effect (both P = .001). Braden Scale score less than or equal to 13 in the first evaluation after hospital admission increased the risk of PU. Albumin was 2.78 +/- 0.57 gm/dL in ICU patients, and albumin level was significantly lower in patients with PU (P = .001). PUs were located mainly in the sacrum (47.59%) and were classified as stage II (42.76%) for all patients. Conclusions The prevalence of PU is related to the age and severity of patient clinical status, as predicted by the Braden Scale score and APACHE II score, and length of hospital and ICU stay. Low albumin level is also related to development of PUs in ICU patients.