PLoS ONE (Jan 2022)

Are there differences between COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 inpatient pressure injuries? Experiences in Internal Medicine Units

  • Leticia Nieto-García,
  • Adela Carpio-Pérez,
  • María Teresa Moreiro-Barroso,
  • Emilia Ruiz-Antúnez,
  • Ainhoa Nieto-García,
  • Montserrat Alonso-Sardón

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 2

Abstract

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Background Pressure Injuries (PIs) are major worldwide public health threats within the different health-care settings. Objective To describe and compare epidemiological and clinical features of PIs in COVID-19 patients and patients admitted for other causes in Internal Medicine Units during the first wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Design A descriptive longitudinal retrospective study. Setting This study was conducted in Internal Medicine Units in Salamanca University Hospital Complex, a tertiary hospital in the Salamanca province, Spain. Participants All inpatients ≥18-year-old admitted from March 1, 2020 to June 1, 2020 for more than 24 hours in the Internal Medicine Units with one or more episodes of PIs. Results A total of 101 inpatients and 171 episodes were studied. The prevalence of PI episodes was 6% and the cumulative incidence was 2.9% during the first-wave of COVID-19. Risk of acute wounds was four times higher in the COVID-19 patient group (pConclusion During the first wave of COVID-19, COVID-19 patients tend to present a higher number of acute wounds, mainly of hospital origin, compared to the profile of the non-COVID group. Diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension were identified as main associated comorbidities in patients with COVID-19 diagnosis.