Evaluation of Pressure Sores in Intensive Care; What Situation Are We In

Abstract

Introduction: Pressure sores are a serious health problem that is common in the intensive care unit (ICU), increasing the length of hospital stay, cost and mortality rate, and should be prevented first. This study was conducted in order to determine the risk factors that may affect our pressure sore prevalence and development. Materials and Methods: The pressure sore data of the patients treated in the Anesthesia Intensive Care Unit for six months between June 1, 2019 and December 31, 2019 were examined. The demographic characteristics, hospitalization diagnoses, pressure sore risk factors, locations and stages of the patients with pressure sores were recorded. Results: The number of patients followed up during the six-month period was 275 and 52 of the patients had pressure sores (18.9%). Forty of the patients were 65 years and older, and advanced age was found to be a significant risk factor (p <0.01). Considering the patients who developed pressure sores in our intensive care follow-up, it was seen that the average pressure sore development day was 17.1st day. (3rd-44th day) Pressure sores were most common in the sacral region and stage two. Conclusion: While the most important risk factors for pressure ulcer development were emphasized as advanced age; in our study, in parallel with the literature, advanced age was the most common. Pressure sores rate and analysis, which is one of the mandatory parameters as an indicator of quality in intensive care, is one of the issues that should be dominated by every intensive care worker.