Associated Risk Factors and Barriers of Pressure Injury Wound Healing Process: A Retrospective Study of Single-Center Experience

Abstract

Introduction: Pressure injuries, particularly those involving dressings, are associated with high rates of morbidity, mortality, and costs. Furthermore, it has a significant impact on patients, family members, and health care systems, increasing pain symptoms, wound odor, hospital stay duration, and even mortality, all of which have a negative impact on quality of life. In the medical literature, a number of variables have been identified that predispose patients to poor wound healing. Diabetes mellitus, venous insufficiency, peripheral artery disease, tobacco smoking, low serum albumin, and inflammatory disorders are among the causes. Objectives: The main aim of this study was to identify risk factors and barriers that may confer on poor wound healing. Methods: This is a retrospective study, which was carried out in Dubai Hospital, Dubai Health Authority (DHA), for the period June 2020 until December 2020. Result: The present study consisted of 146 patients. Paired t test revealed statistically significant improvement in pressure injury healing in terms of length and width at discharge compared to pressure injury (p< 0.05). On the other hand, depth improvement was not statistically significant (p> 0.05). χ² test revealed a statistically significant relationship between pressure injury healing and low albumin levels, diabetes, and advanced age (p < 0.05), while there was no statistically significant association between the location of the pressure injury and the healing process (p> 0.05). Furthermore, there was no statistically significant relationship between Braden category, length of stay, or patient hospitalization and pressure injury healing (p> 0.05). Conclusion: The healing process might be influenced by single or multiple factors. The findings of this retrospective study revealed that low albumin levels, diabetes patients, and age all had an impact on the healing of pressure injuries. When planning and implementing a complete pressure injury treatment strategy, health care practitioners should keep these things under consideration. On the other hand, pressure injury’s location, Braden category, length of stay, and patient hospitalization did not reveal a significant effect on wound healing, despite the fact that other studies showed an effect of these factors on the healing process.