UP, Nutritional Status and Frailty

Abstract

The predisposition to pressure ulcers (PU) is related to a prolonged process of disability that indicates frailty, functional decline and dependence, with malnutrition being a preponderant factor in its evolution. The present study aimed to relate the risk of developing PU with the nutritional status and frailty of elderly people institutionalised in residential structures for the elderly (ERPIs). It was a Quantitative, descriptive and cross-sectional study. A questionnaire was used, which included questions to characterise the participants, the Braden scale, the Mini Nutrition Assessment, and the Groningen Frailty Index. One hundred and thirty-four institutionalised users participated in the study: 86 (64.2%) were female, with an average age of 85.0 (SD=7.9) years, 94 (70.1%) widowed, and 78 (58.2%) had not completed elementary school. The results indicated that 48 (35.8%) of the elderly were at high risk of developing PU, 77 (57.4%) were classified as malnourished or at risk of malnutrition and 110 (82.1%) were frail. Assessing the risk of PU, frailty and malnutrition in institutionalised elderly people makes it possible to institute preventive measures to improve their quality of life. The prevention of PU is an indicator of the quality of care provided. Therefore, clinical practice must be based on current evidence.

Keywords

• Pressure ulcers
• Nutritional status
• Frailty
• Elderly