Multisite pressure ulcer prevalence survey.

The prevalence of pressure ulcers was 9.2% in the 148 hospitals included in the survey. Fifty-eight percent of ulcers were found in patients between the ages of 70 and 89 years. The sacrum was the most common site of ulcers (38%), but the trochanter had the most Stage IV ulcers. Patients had an average of 1.7 ulcers, and Stage IV ulcers were more common in African-Americans and in hospitals over 500 beds. The most commonly used support system was a purchased overlay, but 20 percent of the patients with ulcers were lying on traditional hospital mattresses.