Objective: To identify and analyse skin tear prevalence and factors associated with its occurrence. Method: Systematic review of literature of studies published until June 2014 including studies published in full in English, Spanish or Portuguese. The studies were analysed according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology and the Guidelines for Critically Appraising Studies of Prevalence or Incidence of a Health Problem. Results: The analysis of eight studies showed skin tear prevalence of 3.3% to 22% in the hospital setting and 5.5% to 19.5% in homecare. Advanced age, dependence on basic activities of daily life, frail elderly, level of mobility, agitated behavior, non-responsiveness, greater risk for concurrent development of pressure ulcers, cognitive impairment, spasticity and photoaging were cited as risk factors. Conclusion: Skin tear prevalence ranged from 3.3% to 22% and is mainly associated with advanced age and dependence on basic activities of daily life.

Skin tears are traumatic wounds resulting from friction and shearing forces. Clinical practice strongly indicates that skin tears are a prevalent problem but their incidence is not well established in the literature. This systematic literature review identified and evaluated the available literature on the incidence and risk factors for skin tears in adults and the elderly. Inclusion criteria were epidemiological studies published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese languages from January 1990 through June 2014 and available in full text. Study quality was assessed using the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) statement and the Guidelines for Critically Appraising Studies of Prevalence or Incidence of a Health Problem. Five studies reporting incidence of skin tears met the selection criteria. Reported incidence rates of skin tears ranged from 2.23% to 92% in long-term care facilities and varied from 2.1% among men to 4.6% among women living in the community. The most prevalent risk factor for skin tears was old age, followed by impaired mobility, falls and accidental injuries, previous skin tears, cognitive deficit/dementia, dependence in transfers, and upper limbs. Further epidemiological studies on skin tears are necessary to elucidate the cause of these injuries and identify the profile of people at risk for skin tears, contributing to the development and implementation of appropriate preventive interventions.

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EPÍGRAFE "Agradeço todas as dificuldades que enfrentei; não fosse por elas, eu não teria saído do lugar, As facilidades nos impedem de caminhar. Mesmo as críticas nos auxiliam muito." (Chico Xavier, 1971) Peres GRP. Prevalência e fatores associados às lesões por fricção em idosos de instituições de longa permanência [tese].

Objective: To determine the prevalence of skin tears, and demographic and clinical factors associated with their presence in older adult residents of long-term care facilities. Method: This observational, quantitative, cross-sectional, epidemiological study was conducted with older adult residents of three long-term care facilities in São Paulo, Brazil. For data collection, four instruments were used: a questionnaire assessing sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of the residents; and the Brazilian-Portuguese versions of the Mini-Mental State Examination, Skin Tear Audit Research (STAR) Skin Tear Classification System, and the Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living. Results: A total of 69 residents took part in the study. The prevalence of skin tears was 11.6%. Skin tears were significantly associated with the presence of haematoma (odds ratio, OR=9.159; p=0.017) and actinic purpura (OR=6.265; p=0.033), which increased the odds of skin tear development nine-fold and six-fold, respectively. Conclusion: The findings agree with the international literature. Considering that this was the first epidemiological study on skin tears carried out in long-term care facilities for older adults in Brazil, its contribution lies in the systematisation of data collection and making data available on a field that has not yet been studied in this country.