Braden Scale Research Articles

Effect of a Team Approach to Pressure Injury Management over 5 Years in a Tertiary Hospital.

The authors' facility established a novel integrated wound care team (IWCT), which included the implementation of a strict treatment algorithm by the patients' attending providers and a specialized wound care team led by a plastic surgeon. Investigators then retrospectively analyzed clinical outcomes of pressure injury (PI) management by the IWCT over 5 years. The authors performed a retrospective chart review and periodic statistical analysis of the data for all patients with PI referred to the IWCT in the authors' center from May 2015 to April 2019. Data including patients' demographic information, first and last consultation dates, referring department, PI stage, site of PI, and Braden Scale scores were collected and analyzed. Patients (N = 15,556) did not differ significantly in age, sex, or Braden Scale score. A preimplementation/postimplementation analysis of PI data before and after establishing the IWCT showed that the incidence of stage 3 or 4 PIs had significantly decreased during the study period (19.1% vs 15.2%, P < .05). Conversely, the incidence of stage 1 PIs significantly increased in the same period (38.0% vs 57.4%, P < .05). The proportion of completely healed PIs also increased, and the median treatment period was significantly shortened (P < .05). Implementation of the IWCT in a tertiary hospital setting led to a significant increase in early-stage PI detection and a decrease in severe PIs.

Feasibility of a repositioning schedule on pressure ulcer prevention in a French Intensive Care Unit: A pre and post-intervention pilot study

AimsAs a prerequisite of a multicentre study, we conducted a pilot study to assess the feasibility of a daily repositioning schedule in critically ill patients. The schedule was adapted to the patient's clinical condition, and the estimated risk for developing a pressure ulcer using the Braden scale. DesignA single-center pre and post-intervention pilot study in a French Intensive Care Unit of a university teaching hospital. This study followed TREND guidelines. MethodsDuring the first period (March to May 2018), pressure ulcer prevention was performed according to usual care. During the second period (June to August 2018), the repositioning schedule was adapted to the estimated risk for developing a pressure ulcer according to the Braden scale. Eligible patients had no pressure ulcer at baseline, were intubated within 24 hours of admission and expected to receive mechanical ventilation for at least 24 hours. The primary outcome was the rate of pressure ulcer development at 28 days of hospitalization or at discharge or death, as compared with usual care. Secondary outcomes included the feasibility and safety of the schedule, as assessed by caregivers’ adherence and workload, and the rate of adverse events. ResultsIn the pre-intervention period 20 participants were included, and 14 patients were included in the post-intervention period. There was no decrease in the pressure ulcers incidence with the intervention (25% vs. 28.6%; P = 1). The number of daily repositioning performed increased from 3.3 [IQR 3.0; 3.9] during the pre-intervention period to 4.3 [IQR 3.8; 5.2] during the post-intervention period (P < 0.05), where it differed from the number scheduled by 0.6 [IQR 0.1; 1.4] per day, indicating satisfactory adherence of caregivers to the protocol. Adverse events rate did not differ between the two periods (55.9% vs. 57.1%; P = 0.90). ConclusionA personalised daily repositioning schedule in critically ill patients is feasible and safe. The efficacy of such a strategy, together with its economic impact, need to be assessed in a multicentre randomized trial.

A Hybrid System of Braden Scale and Machine Learning to Predict Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (Bedsores): A Retrospective Observational Cohort Study

Background: The Braden Scale is commonly used to determine Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injuries (HAPI). However, the volume of patients who are identified as being at risk stretches already limited resources, and caregivers are limited by the number of factors that can reasonably assess during patient care. In the last decade, machine learning techniques have been used to predict HAPI by utilizing related risk factors. Nevertheless, none of these studies consider the change in patient status from admission until discharge. Objectives: To develop an integrated system of Braden and machine learning to predict HAPI and assist with resource allocation for early interventions. The proposed approach captures the change in patients' risk by assessing factors three times across hospitalization. Design: Retrospective observational cohort study. Setting(s): This research was conducted at ChristianaCare hospital in Delaware, United States. Participants: Patients discharged between May 2020 and February 2022. Patients with HAPI were identified from Nursing documents (N = 15,889). Methods: Support Vector Machine (SVM) was adopted to predict patients' risk for developing HAPI using multiple risk factors in addition to Braden. Multiple performance metrics were used to compare the results of the integrated system versus Braden alone. Results: The HAPI rate is 3%. The integrated system achieved better sensitivity (74.29 ± 1.23) and detection prevalence (24.27 ± 0.16) than the Braden scale alone (sensitivity (66.90 ± 4.66) and detection prevalence (41.96 ± 1.35)). The most important risk factors to predict HAPI were Braden sub-factors, overall Braden, visiting ICU during hospitalization, and Glasgow coma score. Conclusions: The integrated system which combines SVM with Braden offers better performance than Braden and reduces the number of patients identified as at-risk. Furthermore, it allows for better allocation of resources to high-risk patients. It will result in cost savings and better utilization of resources. Relevance to clinical practice: The developed model provides an automated system to predict HAPI patients in real time and allows for ongoing intervention for patients identified as at-risk. Moreover, the integrated system is used to determine the number of nurses needed for early interventions. Reporting Method: EQUATOR guidelines (TRIPOD) were adopted in this research to develop the prediction model. Patient or Public Contribution: This research was based on a secondary analysis of patients' Electronic Health Records. The dataset was de-identified and patient identifiers were removed before processing and modeling.

Pressure Injury Risk Assessment and Associations in an Adult Inpatient Rehabilitation Sample- Retrospective Cohort Study

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> To identify risk factors for the development of Hospital Acquired Pressure Injury (HAPI) over 6 months in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility (IRF) using the Braden Scale for Pressure Injury Prevention (Braden) and other variables. <h3>Design</h3> Observational Retrospective Cohort Study. <h3>Setting</h3> 262 bed free-standing IRF at an urban academic medical center. <h3>Participants</h3> Adults 18 years and older admitted to IRF from July through December 2020 were included. <h3>Interventions</h3> N/A. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> Logistic regression is used to assess HAPI occurrence during episode of care, against possible predictors including the Braden total score, Braden subscales, demographics, lab albumen, pain, diagnosis-related impairment group, external medical/orthopedic devices, expression of ideas/wants and understanding of verbal content. <h3>Results</h3> Of 1342 unique patients with 1494 episode of care, 54 (3.6%) HAPI events occurred. Before adjustment, Braden total score of 15 (14.69, SD 1.92) and below was associated with increased HAPI occurrence (p< 0.001). Univariate analyses identified the following significant risk factors for HAPI: age, impairment group, gastrointestinal tube, urinary catheter, expression of ideas/wants and understanding of verbal content. After adjusting for these variables, each one-point increase was associated with a 23% reduced odds of HAPI occurrence (95% CI, 0.65-0.90; p< 0.001). Three variables were still strongly associated with increased HAPI occurrence: Braden subscale "Friction/Shear" (OR 0.47; 95%CI, 0.27-0.81; p< 0.007), presence of a gastrointestinal tube (OR 2.51 higher odds; 95%CI, 1.03-5.66; p< 0.001), and rarely/never expresses ideas/wants (OR 9.16 higher odds; 95%CI, 0.94-70.05; p< 0.04) compared to no difficulty. Impairment group modified the effects: People with Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) had a greater odds of HAPI occurrence compared to those with Brain (OR 0.28; 95% CI, 0.11-0.66; p< 0.001) and Medically Complex (OR 0.31; 95% CI, 0.15-0.63; p< 0.001) impairments. <h3>Conclusions</h3> This study builds on prior SCI-related Braden research by including all patients admitted to IRF. Clinicians should consider adult IRF patients at risk for HAPI with Braden total scores of 15 and below, worse problems of "Friction/Shear", presence of a gastrointestinal tube, and patient's inability to express ideas/wants. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> N/A.

Nursing Assessment of Pressure Injury Risk with the Braden Scale Validated against Sensor-Based Measurement of Movement.

Nursing staff assessment to accurately identify pressure injury (PrI) risk is a hallmark in PrI prevention care. Risk scores from the Braden Scale for Predicting Pressure Sore Risk© (hereafter Braden), a commonly used tool for assessing PrI risk, signal the need for preventative care. Braden Mobility, Activity, and Sensory Perception subscale subgroups associated with repositioning movement features help identify preventative strategies that minimize pressure intensity and duration. Evidence confirming subscale rating accuracy is needed. This study compared assessment score accuracy with movement data collected via accelerometer sensor. Sample included 913 nursing home residents from the Turn Everyone and Move for Pressure Ulcer Prevention (TEAM-UP) cluster randomized trial. Movements and Braden Mobility and Activity subscale scores were evaluated for significant differences and associations. Mobility subgroups explained a small-medium amount of variance in mean lying and upright movement features (0.002 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.195). Activity subgroups explained a small-medium amount of variance in mean lying, upright, and ambulating movements (0.016 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.248). Significant associations occurred among subscale subgroups and most movements. Nursing assessment ratings using Braden scale's Mobility and Activity subscale scores are accurate indicators of actual repositioning movements and can be relied upon for PrI prevention care planning for older adults.

PRESSURE INJURY DEVELOPMENT AND CARE COMPLEXITY IN PATIENTS AT AN EMERGENCY SERVICE

Objective: to assess pressure injury development and its association with care complexity in patients treated at an emergency service. Method: a prospective cohort and observational study conducted from August to October 2020 with patients treated in the emergency unit from a public hospital in southwest Bahia, Brazil. A specific form created for the study, the Braden Scale and the Perroca Classification Instrument were used for data collection. The data were analyzed by means of descriptive analysis and the Pearson's chi-square test. Results: the sample consisted in 225 patients. The incidence of pressure injury was 9.3%. It mainly affected women (61.9%) in the intermediate (57.1%) and semi-intensive (42.9%) care levels. There was an association between care complexity and pressure injury development (p&lt;0.001). Conclusion: the importance of evaluating care complexity in the patients treated at the emergency services is emphasized to provide safe care and reduce adverse events.

Factors associated with facial pressure injury in patients receiving non-invasive positive pressure ventilation mask: A retrospective case-control study.

This study aimed to investigate factors associated with facial pressure injury (FPI) in patients receiving non-invasive positive pressure ventilation (NIPPV) during hospitalisation in the intensive care unit (ICU) and to identify predictors of FPI. Non-invasive positive pressure ventilation is a method of treating patients with acute and chronic respiratory failure. However, FPI may occur due to unsuitable nasal-oral NIPPV masks and discomfort in contact with the skin surface. A retrospective case-control study. From January 2018 to October 2020, a total of 397 patients admitted to a national hospital in Taiwan were enrolled. Patients received NIPPV and routinely used under-mask prophylactic dressings during hospitalisation. Patients were divided into the non-FPI group (n=357) and the FPI group (n=40). Demographic, clinical characteristics, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II scores, and Braden Scale scores were collected from medical records. Logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the contribution of each factor to the FPI, and odds ratios were reported. The STROBE checklist was used in this retrospective case-control study. There were significant differences between the groups in age, serum albumin, C-reactive protein, body mass index (BMI), disease severity, Braden Scale score, length of stay, duration of mechanical ventilation and use of corticosteroids. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the risk factor for FPI was the Braden Scale score [OR=1.630 (1.176-2.260)], BMI [OR=0.396 (0.210-1.784)] and corticosteroids [OR=0.394 (0.159-1.811)], which were predictors of FPI in patients with NIPPV. Facial pressure injury may still occur in patients who routinely use prophylactic dressings under NIPPV masks. This study provides information on continuing education training for FPI to more accurately identify high-risk and timely preventive measures to reduce FPI. Addressing FPI-related factors to prevent facial skin damage and reduce comorbidities in patients using NIPPV masks.

Prevalence of Friction Skin Injury on the Buttocks and/or Posterior Thighs in an Acute Care Setting: A Quality Improvement Project.

The prevalence of friction skin injury (FcI) in an acute care hospital was evaluated as part of a quality improvement initiative. The setting for this quality improvement project was an academic medical center with 728 licensed beds in the central plains of the United States. Data were collected by 33 clinicians: 28 were RN staff members and 5 were patient care technicians. Six of the 28 nurses (21%) were board-certified wound nurses and 2 (7%) were in training but not yet certified. Prevalence data were collected on 354 hospitalized patients. Friction skin injuries were measured in conjunction with the institution's quarterly skin survey for the NDNQI PUPS (National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators Pressure Ulcer Prevalence Survey) in August 2019. The prevalence of FcI was calculated using the number of patients with FcI divided by the total number of patients surveyed. Three hundred fifty-four patients completed the survey in this PUPS; FcI was diagnosed in 8 patients, yielding a prevalence rate of 2.3%. Clinical manifestations of FcI such as lichenification, skin/soft tissue discoloration, skin/soft tissue deformation and/or callus formation, and skin ulceration were also documented. In addition, a majority of patients with FcI were found to have fecal or urinary incontinence (n = 5/8, 63%; 2 had both fecal and urinary incontinence, 25%). Braden Scale for Pressure Sore Risk subscales scores were analyzed; the mean subscale score for moisture was 3.4; the mean subscale score for friction/shear was 1.4; the mean subscale score for activity was 2.6; and the mean subscale score for mobility was 2.9. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first published article documenting FcI prevalence in any care setting. Additional prevalence studies are needed to establish the epidemiology of FcI across care settings and in the community.

Development and validation of a nomogram for predicting the risk of pressure injury in adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery

ObjectivesThis study aimed to develop a nomogram for predicting the risk of pressure injury (PI) in adult patients undergoing abdominal surgery and validate its effectiveness among these patients. MethodsThis study retrospectively included 11,247 adult patients, who underwent abdominal surgery and postoperative supervision in ICU, in a tertiary care hospital in western China between January 2017 and December 2020. All datasets were extracted from the patient’s medical records and randomly divided into the training cohort (8,997) and the validation cohort (2,250) by 8:2. The univariable logistic regression was used to select potentially relevant features. Then, multivariable logistic regression was also conducted and utilized to establish the nomogram. The nomogram was compared with the Braden scale for predicting PI in the validation cohort through the area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve, Hosmer-Lemeshow (H-L) test, and decision curve analysis (DCA). Results873 (7.8%) patients suffered PIs. Logistic regression analysis showed that time of operation, weight, type of operation, albumin, and Braden scale score were independent risk factors for PI. A nomogram integrating five selected characteristics was constructed. The AUC of the ROC curve for the nomogram was 0.831, with a specificity of 85.2% and sensitivity of 63.7%. The AUC of the ROC curve for the Braden scale was 0.567, with a specificity of only 33.0%. The P-values of the H-L test were 0.45 (nomogram) and 0.22 (Braden scale), both indicating good calibration. The DCA also displayed that the nomogram had better predictive validity. ConclusionCompared with the Braden scale, the nomogram showed a better predictive performance. This nomogram is informative and has the potential to better guide caregivers for risk stratification and prevention of PI, although it requires further validation.

Decision-Tree-Based Approach for Pressure Ulcer Risk Assessment in Immobilized Patients.

Applications where data mining tools are used in the fields of medicine and nursing are becoming more and more frequent. Among them, decision trees have been applied to different health data, such as those associated with pressure ulcers. Pressure ulcers represent a health problem with a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of immobilized patients and on the quality of life of affected people and their families. Nurses provide comprehensive care to immobilized patients. This fact results in an increased workload that can be a risk factor for the development of serious health problems. Healthcare work with evidence-based practice with an objective criterion for a nursing professional is an essential addition for the application of preventive measures. In this work, two ways for conducting a pressure ulcer risk assessment based on a decision tree approach are provided. The first way is based on the activity and mobility characteristics of the Braden scale, whilst the second way is based on the activity, mobility and skin moisture characteristics. The results provided in this study endow nursing professionals with a foundation in relation to the use of their experience and objective criteria for quick decision making regarding the risk of a patient to develop a pressure ulcer.

Braden scale has low reliability in different patients under care in intensive care unit.

SUMMARYOBJECTIVE:The aim of this study was to assess the inter-reliability of the Braden scale and its subscales for different patients assisted in the intensive care unit. We hypothesized that the Braden scale has low reliability in different populations.METHODS:This reliability study involved the Braden scale in intensive care unit of a hospital. A total of 200 patients were admitted to the intensive care unit in four different groups: neurological patients, sepsis, elderly, and adults affected by trauma. The Braden scale is a tool composed of six subscales for patient assessment: sensory perception, humidity, activity, mobility, nutrition, and friction. The total score was also calculated. The Braden scale was applied by two different nurses with an interval of 20–30 min between applications.RESULTS:For all populations, kappa values considered unsuitable were observed for most categories of the Braden scale, ranging from 0.06–0.25. Only for the total Braden scale score was moderate reliability identified in all groups evaluated, with intraclass correlation coefficient values ranging from 0.48–0.75.CONCLUSIONS:Braden scale is not a reliable tool to be used in the intensive care unit, and we do not recommend the use of this scale to assess the risk of developing pressure injury.

Incontinence Management and Pressure Injury Rates in US Acute Care Hospitals: Analysis of Data From the 2018-2019 International Pressure Injury Prevalence™ (IPUP) Survey.

PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to identify and describe the prevalence of incontinence (urinary and/or fecal) and incontinence management practices among patients in US adult acute care settings, with and without hospital-acquired pressure injuries (HAPIs), using the data from the 2018/2019 International Pressure Ulcer Prevalence™ (IPUP) survey.DESIGN:Observational, cohort study with cross-sectional data collection and retrospective data analysis.SUBJECTS AND SETTING:The sample comprised 296,014 patients hospitalized in 1801 acute care facilities in the United States that participated in 2018 and/or 2019 IPUP survey. Of these, 192,852 (65%) patients had information recorded in the survey on incontinence status and were included in the analytical sample.METHODS:Data from the 2018/2019 IPUP database were analyzed to evaluate the prevalence of incontinence (urinary [UI], fecal [FI], and dual [DI]), and the use of incontinence and moisture management strategies. Incontinence prevalence was analyzed between 3 groups of patients: (1) those without pressure injuries; (2) patients with stage 1 and 2 HAPIs; and (3) those with severe HAPIs (stage 3, 4, unstageable, deep tissue pressure injury). Analysis of the subgroups within acute care was also undertaken and included medical-surgical, critical care, and step-down units.RESULTS:Incontinent patients were older (mean age 69-74 years depending on type of incontinence as compared to 62 years for continent patients) and had lower Braden Scale scores (range, 14.7-16.7, compared to 19.4 for continent patients). Half of the patients were female, 49.6% male, and 0.4% were unknown. Incontinence was identified in 32% of patients. Among patients with incontinence, 33% had UI, 12% had FI, and 55% had DI. Hospital-acquired pressure injuries were present in 27.4% of continent patients and 72.6% of incontinent patients, with DI having the highest rate of HAPIs. Analysis revealed a higher proportion of incontinent patients with unstageable HAPIs than continent patients (14.9% vs 9.6%, P = .00), as well as a higher proportion of incontinent patients with deep tissue HAPIs as compared to continent patients (27.0% vs 22.1%, P = .00). Significantly more incontinent patients regardless of HAPI status were using a bowel or bladder management system (P = .00).CONCLUSION:Results of this study support the importance of incontinence as a risk factor in HAPI development. The prevalence of all types of incontinence was 31.7% for the entire sample. Almost three-fourths (72.6%) of patients with HAPI had UF, FI, or DI. A standardized definition of both UI and FI is needed, given that over 70% of all critical care unit patients with a urinary catheter for incontinence management were still classified as urinary incontinent.

A Cartoon Version of Braden Scale to Assess the Risk of Pressure Injury: Content Validity and Interrater Reliability Study.

The Braden Scale is widely used to assess the risk of pressure injury. However, the vague literal description of the items creates difficulties for bedside nurses and limits its sensitivity. To solve this problem, we developed a cartoon version of the Braden scale (CVBS) to improve the pressure injury risk assessment ability of bedside nurses. The CVBS was constructed by two nurses, and the final version was determined through a two-round Delphi consultation. The scale's content validity was calculated based on expert ratings. A total of 265 patients were evaluated simultaneously with the CVBS by 119 bedside nurses and 46 wound care specialists; and 114 bedside nurses and the same 46 wound care specialists evaluated 239 patients with the original Braden scale (OBS). The interrater reliability between the two groups was calculated as Kappa value, and then the Kappa values of the two versions were compared. The content validity for the draft scale was not good enough. After modification, the indices of all the items in the final CVBS reached 1.00. The Kappa value of the OBS was 0.69 (95% CI 0.61-0.76); for each item, it ranged from 0.60 to 0.80. The interrater reliabilities of the CVBS were higher than those of the OBS, with an overall kappa value of 0.87 (95% CI 0.81-0.92) and a range of 0.77 to 0.93 for each item. The differences between the Kappa values of the CVBS and those of the OBS were all statistically significant. The CVBS had good validity and showed higher interrater reliability than the OBS, indicating that it may improve bedside nurses' ability to assess pressure injury risk.

Pressure Ulcers Risk Assessment According to Nursing Criteria

Pressure ulcers (PU) represent a health problem with a significant impact on the morbidity and mortality of immobilized patients, and on the quality of life of affected people and their families. Risk assessment of pressure ulcers incidence must be carried out in a structured and comprehensive manner. The Braden Scale is the result of an analysis of risk factors that includes subscales that define exactly what should be interpreted in each one. The healthcare work with evidence-based practice with an objective criterion by the nursing professional is an essential addition for the application of preventive measures. Explanatory models based on the different subscales of Braden Scale purvey an estimation to level changes in the risk of suffering PU. A binary-response logistic regression model, supported by a study with an analytical, observational, longitudinal, and prospective design in the Granada-Metropolitan Primary Healthcare District (DSGM) in Andalusia (Southern Spain), with a sample of 16,215 immobilized status patients, using a Braden Scale log, is performed. A model that includes the mobility and activity scales achieves a correct classification rate of 86% (sensitivity (S) = 87.57%, specificity (SP) = 81.69%, positive predictive value (PPV) = 91.78%, and negative preventive value (NPV) = 73.78%), while if we add the skin moisture subscale to this model, the correct classification rate is 96% (S = 90.74%, SP = 88.83%, PPV = 95.00%, and NPV = 80.42%). The six subscales provide a model with a 99.5% correct classification rate (S = 99.93%, SP = 98.50%, PPV = 99.36%, and NPV = 99.83%). This analysis provides useful information to help predict this risk in this group of patients through objective nursing criteria.

Effect of Telenursing on Caregiver Burden of Care and Incidence of some Complications in Patients with Acute Stroke Discharged from Neurological Wards: A Randomized Control Trial

Background: Brain stroke is the main cause of death and disability worldwide. This disease can cause major complications in patients and place a great burden of care on caregivers. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effect of telenursing on the burden of care in caregivers and the rate of complications in patients with acute brain stroke discharged from neurological wards. Methods: This two-arm parallel-group single-blind randomized clinical trial study was carried out on 72 patients with acute brain stroke discharged from neurological wards in Qom, Iran, in 2019. The patients and their caregivers were divided to control and intervention groups using random block allocation. In addition to the usual training of the ward, the intervention group received training and counseling based on their needs through phone calls for 4 weeks. However, the control group received only the usual ward training. Immediately after discharge from the hospital and 1 month later, the average care load in caregivers and urinary problems, bedsores, and the number of falls in patients were measured. A demographic questionnaire, Caregiver Burden Inventory, Braden Scale, Morse Scale, and a urinary problem checklist were used for data collection. The data were analyzed using the chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, independent t-test, and paired t-test by SPSS software (version 24). Results: After the intervention, the mean scores of the caregiver’s burden of care in the control and counseling groups were 35.22 ± 17.215 and 8.00 ± 7.556, respectively (P &lt; 0.001). In addition, the counseling group experienced remarkably fewer urinary problems (P &lt; 0.001) and falling (P = 0.011). Conclusions: This study showed that telenursing reduced the burden of care in caregivers and decreased urinary tract infections and the number of falls in patients with acute stroke. Therefore, nurses and healthcare providers can use this program to improve the lifestyle of patients with acute brain stroke and their caregivers.

Can Variables From the Electronic Health Record Identify Delirium at Bedside?

Delirium, a common and serious disorder in older hospitalized patients, remains underrecognized. While several delirium predictive models have been developed, only a handful have focused on electronic health record (EHR) data. This prospective cohort study of older inpatients (≥65 years old) aimed to determine if variables within our health system's EHR could be used to identify delirium among hospitalized patients at the bedside. Trained researchers screened daily for delirium using the 3-minute diagnostic Confusion Assessment Method (3D-CAM). Patient demographic and clinical variables were extracted from the EHR. Among 408 participants, mean age was 75 years, 60.8% were female, and 82.6% were Black. Overall rate of delirium was 16.7%. Patients with delirium were older and more likely to have an infection diagnosis, prior dementia, higher Charlson comorbidity severity of illness score, lower Braden Scale score, and higher Morse Fall Scale score in the EHR (P<0.01 for all). On multivariable analysis, a prior diagnosis of dementia (odds ratio: 5.0, 95% CI: 2.5-10.3) and a Braden score of <18 (odds ratio: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.5-5.1) remained significantly associated with delirium among hospitalized patients. Further research in the development of an automated delirium prediction model is needed.

Braden scale for predicting pneumonia after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

SUMMARYOBJECTIVE:Stroke-associated pneumonia is an infection that commonly occurs in patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage and causes serious burdens. In this study, we evaluated the validity of the Braden scale for predicting stroke-associated pneumonia after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.METHODS:Patients with spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage were retrospectively included and divided into pneumonia and no pneumonia groups. The admission clinical characteristics and Braden scale scores at 24 h after admission were collected and compared between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to assess the predictive validity of the Braden scale. Multivariable analysis was conducted to identify the independent risk factors associated with pneumonia after intracerebral hemorrhage.RESULTS:A total of 629 intracerebral hemorrhage patients were included, 150 (23.8%) of whom developed stroke-associated pneumonia. Significant differences were found in age and fasting blood glucose levels between the two groups. The mean score on the Braden scale in the pneumonia group was 14.1±2.4, which was significantly lower than that in the no pneumonia group (16.5±2.6), p<0.001. The area under the curve for the Braden scale for the prediction of pneumonia after intracerebral hemorrhage was 0.760 (95%CI 0.717–0.804). When the cutoff point was 15 points, the sensitivity was 74.3%, the specificity was 64.7%, the accuracy was 72.0%, and the Youden's index was 39.0%. Multivariable analysis showed that a lower Braden scale score (OR 0.696; 95%CI 0.631–0.768; p<0.001) was an independent risk factor associated with stroke-associated pneumonia after intracerebral hemorrhage.CONCLUSION:The Braden scale, with a cutoff point of 15 points, is moderately valid for predicting stroke-associated pneumonia after spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage.

Pressure Injury Risk Assessment and Prevention in Patients With COVID-19 in the Intensive Care Unit.

Patients critically ill with COVID-19 are at risk for hospital-acquired pressure injury, including device-related pressure injury. Braden Scale predictive validity was compared between patients with and without COVID-19, and a logistic regression model was developed to identify risk factors for device-related pressure injury. A total of 1920 patients were included in the study sample, including 407 with COVID-19. Among the latter group, at least 1 hospital-acquired pressure injury developed in each of 120 patients (29%); of those, device-related pressure injury developed in 55 patients (46%). The Braden Scale score area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.72 in patients without COVID-19 and 0.71 in patients with COVID-19, indicating fair to poor discrimination. Fragile skin and prone positioning during mechanical ventilatory support were risk factors for device-related pressure injury. Clinicians may consider incorporating factors not included in the Braden Scale (eg, oxygenation and perfusion) in routine risk assessment and should maintain vigilance in their efforts to protect patients with COVID-19 from device-related pressure injury.

Relationship between pressure ulcer risk and sarcopenia in patients with hip fractures.

Pressure ulcer (PU) is a frequent complication of hip fractures. PUs can develop at any time after a hip fracture but most appear within 2-4 days after surgery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between hip fractures due to sarcopenia and the risk of PUs in patients with hip fracture. Between March 2017 and March 2019, patients aged ≥65 years of age with hip fractures were included in this retrospective cohort study. PU risk assessment according to the Braden Scale was performed within the first few hours after arrival at hospital. Skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) and hand grip strength were evaluated for a diagnosis of sarcopenia. Of the 289 patients admitted to the study institution, 180 patients were finally enrolled in the study (129 females; 51 males). In male patients, as SMI increased, so too did the Braden Scale score, which was statistically significant (p=0.02). However, there was no statistically significant difference between SMIs and Braden Scale scores in female patients (p=0.304). In male patients, there was no statistically significant difference between hand grip strength and Braden Scale score (p=0.251). However, in female patients, as hand grip strength increased, so too did the Braden Scale score; this was also statistically significant (p=0.041). In this study, decreased muscle mass and muscle weakness in patients with hip fractures were associated with increased PU risk as measured by Braden Scale scores in both males and females.

Malnutrition is highly prevalent in hospitalized cirrhotic patients and associates with a poor outcome.

The role of malnutrition on the prognosis of hospitalized cirrhotic patients is incompletely studied. Our aim was to determine the prevalence of malnutrition, functional scores and their impact on prognosis of hospitalized cirrhotic patients. This retrospective study included all patients with cirrhosis hospitalized in the gastroenterology unit at Saint-Luc university hospital, Brussels between April 2014 and September 2014. Nutritional status was evaluated according to minimum clinical summary diagnostic criteria. Cirrhosis-related complications or death occurrence were analysed in a one-year follow-up. 95 cirrhotic patients were assessed for nutritional status and outcomes. Malnutrition affected 45.3% of patients and was more frequent with the severity of cirrhosis: 29% in Child-Pugh A, 48.8% in Child-Pugh B and 72.2% in Child-Pugh C patients. 58.9% of patients developed cirrhosis-related complications (60.7% in the malnutrition group vs. 39.3%, p<0.001, OR 5.06, IC95 1.90-14.58) and 33.7% of patients died (68.75% vs. 31.25%, p=0.002, OR 4.33, IC95 1.62-12.28). Adjusting for age, sodium, MELD, Charlson index, hepatocellular carcinoma, platelets, diabetes, prognostic nutritional index and Braden scale, malnutrition was significantly associated with higher mortality and morbidity rates with an OR of 3.56 (CI95 1.55-8.16) and 2.09 (CI95 1.16-3.77) respectively. Braden scale was significantly associated with higher mortality (p=0.027, OR 1.25, CI95 1.03-1.52) whereas prognostic nutritional index was associated with higher morbidity (p=0.001, OR 0.94, CI95 0.90-0.98). Malnutrition is highly prevalent in hospitalized cirrhotic patients. Malnutrition, low prognostic nutritional index and low Braden scale are associated with poor outcomes in cirrhosis.