OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospitalised patients and any underlying or predisposing factors to ulceration. METHOD: This cross-sectional study took place in a university hospital in Varanasi, India. A total of 445 patients hospitalised in medical and surgical wards were examined in a single day for the number, site and grade of pressure ulcers. Haemoglobin, serum albumin and blood sugar levels of patients with pressure ulcers were recorded. RESULTS: The prevalence of pressure ulcers was high (4.94%). Anaemia, malnutrition and diabetes were important risk factors, while morbidity due to pressure ulcers in long-stay wards, such as neurology, was exceptionally high (40.9%). CONCLUSION: Pressure ulcers remain one of the most neglected aspects of health-care provision in India and identifying their associated risk factors at an early stage may go a long way in preventing their occurrence.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospitalised patients and any underlying or predisposing factors to ulceration. METHOD: This cross-sectional study took place in a university hospital in Varanasi, India. A total of 445 patients hospitalised in medical and surgical wards were examined in a single day for the number, site and grade of pressure ulcers. Haemoglobin, serum albumin and blood sugar levels of patients with pressure ulcers were recorded. RESULTS: The prevalence of pressure ulcers was high (4.94%). Anaemia, malnutrition and diabetes were important risk factors, while morbidity due to pressure ulcers in long-stay wards, such as neurology, was exceptionally high (40.9%). CONCLUSION: Pressure ulcers remain one of the most neglected aspects of health-care provision in India and identifying their associated risk factors at an early stage may go a long way in preventing their occurrence.
Authors: B S Renganathan; Sridhar Nagaiyan; S P Preejith; Shameer Gopal; Susovan Mitra; Mohanasankar Sivaprakasam Journal: J Intensive Care Soc Date: 2018-10-11
Authors: Biji M Sankaran; Santam Chakraborty; Vijay M Patil; Sindhu N Raghavan; Shibimol Thomas; Subhradev Sen Journal: Indian J Palliat Care Date: 2015 May-Aug