Pressure ulcers at diverse services in a second level attention hospital

Abstract

Objective: To describe the epidemiologic characteristics of pressure ulcers and of the affected population and estimate the direct costs of care at diverse services in a second level of attention hospital.

Methodology: Descriptive and cross-sectional study, in which the entire population over 18 years old of General Surgery, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Internal Medicine and Intensive Care services in second level of attention hospital. Each patient was assessed on a daily basis during 30 consecutive days through clinical registers

Results: From 218 patients assessed, 61 showed one or more pressure ulcers. The total number of lesions detected was 378. A raw prevalence of 28% was reported, as well as an incidence of 13.3%. The median age of the patients was 61.4 ± 20.9 years old. The most prevalent pathologies found were cardiovascular illnesses. The majority of patients suffering from pressure ulcer showed some type of incontinence and/or overweight. The median score in the Braden scale turned out to be 12.5 ± 2.8. The majority of pressure sores were localized at the heels, sacrum, and scapula, with 81.5% being category I. The pressure ulcers direct costs were estimated at $6,457.64 MXN per person per day.

Conclusion: Pressure ulcers continue being a problem for hospitalized patients in second level of attention hospital units. Therefore, it is necessary that healthcare authorities and providers offer assistance interventions, optimize available human and material resources, and develop sanitary policies focused towards both preventing and attending pressure sores.