A descriptive study of pressure sores: the prevalence of pressure sores and the characteristics of patients.

A descriptive study was carried out within a public health services area in Sweden in order to determine the incidence of pressure sores in acute and long-term care. Methods of prevention, treatment and the characteristics of patients were also noted. The criteria for the assessment of pressure sores were: skin discolouration, epithelial damage and damage to the full thickness of the skin. The data were collected by means of interviews during 1 week in February, 1980. It was found that within the public health services area there was a pressure sore frequency of 4%; i.e. 71 patients of a total of 1776 had pressure sores. Some of these patients had more than one pressure sore; the total number of sores was 109. The methods of prevention and treatment were numerous. The patients who developed pressure sores were predominantly women over 65 years of age, incontinent, and with poor mobility.