Pressure wounds in a cohort of critical patients: incidence and associated factors

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim To assess the incidence and factors associated with pressure wounds in patients of a Brazilian clinical and surgical Intensive Care Center (composed of three Intensive Care Units). Method Cohort monitored for clinical and therapeutic variables in an Intensive Care Center. Cox’s Multiple Regression was employed, establishing the number of days until the first pressure injury as a time variable; the omnibus test was also performed. Results 178 patients, 64 (36%) developed at least one pressure wound. The independent variables for the risk of pressure wounds were: Braden 60 years (HR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.2-3.5), nothing by mouth time (HR: 1.06; 95% CI 1.02 -1.10) and physical therapy days (HR: 0.81; 95% CI: 0.73-0.91). Conclusion Pressure wounds were incident. Braden <13 points, history of previous strokes, being elderly, and time in nothing by mouth were shown to be independent risk factors for pressure wounds. The days of exposure to physical therapy were protective. These findings corroborate recommendations to monitor the frequency of pressure wounds and to establish protective measures based on local indicators.

Keywords

• Pressure ulcer
• Critical care
• Intensive care units