Pressure ulcer prevalence in two general hospitals.

This is the report of prevalence and identification of possible major factors of significance in the production of pressure ulcers in two general hospitals of 1,301 and 1,006 beds. One of the two hospitals included a 160-bed Spinal Cord Injury and 120-bed Nursing Home Care Unit where research data were also collected on two populations at increased risk. Data were analyzed using SPSSX, chi square, analysis of variance, and Cramer's contingency coefficient. Factors of significance associated with pressure ulcers in this study were: diagnosis; decreased hemoglobin, hematocrit, total protein, and albumin levels; mobility status; restraints; and bowel incontinence. Factors which were inconclusive were: diastolic blood pressure below 60, surgery within two weeks of pressure ulcer development, and nutrition.