A Cross-Sectional Study on the Prevalence and Incidence of Pressure Ulcers in an Italian University Hospital-Umbria Region

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence and incidence of pressure ulcers (PUs) in patients hospitalized in a University Hospital in central Italy. Methods: We carried out a prevalence and incidence study on PUs and an additional prevalence estimate of PUs was also produced ten days after the first assessment. All data were explored by descriptive statistics, the Chi-square test and a multivariate analysis. Results: The prevalence of pressure ulcers was of 6,5%, while it increased to 9,9% at the second assessment ten days after the first measurement. Prevalence was statistically significant and increased with the age of inpatients (p=0,004) and was correlated to the origin of the patients (p=0,002). The incidence of PUs ten days after hospital admittance was of 3,6%. Ulcers are more frequently observed in the general medicine rather than in the surgery and intensive care units. Results showed that there exists a meaningful relationship between increased risk (Braden 16) and the presence of PUs, with an OR of 1,40 (95% CI 1,03-1,62) in high risk patients (Braden -12) and with an OR of 1,61 (95% CI 1,06-2,42) in very high or prohibitive risk patients (Braden 13-16). The most affected areas are the sacrum, the heels and the ankles. Mobilization plans were scarcely available, or do not described. Conclusions: The obtained data confirmed the difficulty to measure whether PU prevention practices are being carried out in compliance with the set guidelines presently in use in all the University Hospital Units. There is still a very limited use of available risk assessment tools for predicting PU risk and mobilization plans are still poorly documented. A monitoring and follow-up strategy should be implemented to better understand prevalence and incidence rates.