The aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of skin tears in the extremities and to explore factors associated with development of skin tears in inpatients at a Danish hospital. The study was designed as a point prevalence survey and included 202 patients in the age range 19-99 (mean: 70·7, SD: 16·5). The patients were assessed for presence of skin tears, numbers, locations and previous skin tears. Data were collected using a data collection sheet developed for a previous study. The survey team consisted of four specialist nurses. Data were collected over a period of 24 hours spread over 3 days. Of the 202 patients, 23 had skin tears, yielding a prevalence of 11·4%. In total, 40 skin tears were observed. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that previous skin tears (odds ratio (OR): 9·3, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2·6-33·4, P < 0·001), ecchymosis (OR: 5·6, CI: 1·4-23·2, P < 0·017) and risk of falling (OR: 3·8, CI: 1·2-12·0, P < 0·021) were significantly associated with development of skin tears. The prevalence of skin tears in this study (11·4%) matches other international observations. The following risk factors were recognised: previous skin tear, ecchymosis and risk of falling. These factors could be used to identify patients requiring prevention of skin tears.

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) report frequent adverse skin reactions (ASRs) due to face personal protective equipment (F-PPE) use during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.Objectives: To describe self-reported ASRs among HCWs using F-PPE; investigate background factors, such as chronic skin diseases and skin types (dry, oily, combination, sensitive), and determine whether HCWs took preventive methods against ASRs.Methods: An online questionnaire was distributed to 22 993 HCWs at hospitals. Results:The prevalence of ASRs was 61.9% based on 10 287 responders. Different types of F-PPE caused different reactions. The most common ASRs from surgical masks were spots and pimples (37.2%) and from FFP3 masks was red and irritated skin (27.3%).A significantly higher proportion of HCWs with chronic skin diseases had ASRs (71.6%) than those without chronic skin diseases (59.7%) (P < .001). Some skin types were more prone to ASRs (sensitive skin [78.8%] vs dry skin [54.3%]; P = .001). HCWs using F-PPE for >6 hours versus <3 hours per day had a four times higher ASR risk (P = <.001). Nearly all HCWs used preventive and/or counteractive methods (94.2%).Conclusions: It is important to consider background factors, such as chronic skin diseases and skin types, to prevent and counteract ASRs due to F-PPE use.

The low prevalence found in this study may reflect the focus on prevention of skin tears that the nursing home has maintained over the past year. Nevertheless, the appropriate prevention and management of residents with skin tears is an ongoing challenge for health professionals.

The ISTAP Skin Tear Classification System was developed with the goal of establishing a global language for describing and documenting skin tears and to raise the health-care community's awareness of skin tears. The Danish translation of the ISTAP classification system supports the earlier ISTAP study and further validates the classification system. The Danish translation of the classification system is vital to the promotion of skin tears in both research and the clinical settings in Denmark.

Background: To estimate the prevalence of lymphedema/chronic edema (CO) and wounds in acute hospital inpatients in five different countries. Methods and Results: A point-prevalence study was carried out during working day periods in six general hospitals in four countries (Denmark, France, United Kingdom, and Australia) and one hospital oncology inpatient unit in one other country (Ireland). The study used validated clinical tools for the assessment and collection of data. Data were collected by expert clinicians through interviews and physical examination of the patients present in the wards. A total of 1905 patients could be included and investigated among the 3041 total bed occupancy in the seven hospitals. Lymphedema/CO was present in 723 of them (38%). Main risk factors associated with CO were age, morbid obesity, and heart failure, as well as chair bound immobility and neurological deficiency. History of cellulitis was frequent in patients with CO and wounds (24.8%) and CO alone (14.1%) compared to the 1.5% prevalence in patients without CO. Conclusion: Lymphedema/CO is very frequent in patients hospitalized in hospital acute wards. It is strongly associated with obesity, venous insufficiency, and heart failure. Our results strongly suggest a hidden health care burden and cost linked to CO independently of chronic wounds.