The Incidence of Pressure Ulcers in Hospital Patients Monitored for One Year

Abstract

Pressure ulcers are still a major problem for patients with impaired mobility. This study was undertaken to determine the incidence of pressure ulcers in patients with neurological and pulmonary diseases, where preventive care was being carried out. A risk asessment tool, the Braden Scale, was employed to identify patients at risk, with the aim of providing focussed preventive care. 240 patients admitted during one year to one ward of Oita Medical University Hospital, Japan, were entered into the study. Eight patients developed pressure ulcers (an incidence of 3.3%). In addition, the incidence rate among patients with a Braden score of 16 or less was only 28.6%. Of the eight patients, 5 died during the study and one died later. This indicates that using an assessment tool may contribute to reducing the incidence rate of pressure ulcer development in the ,at risk' group by providing focused preventive care. However, it should be noted that there is a limit to pressure ulcer prevention in very ill patients with multiple pathologies, who are at the terminal stage of illness, even if good preventive care is given.