Risk factors of Pressure Ulcers in hospitalized elderly Egyptian people

Background: Pressure ulcers affect a large scale of elderly people. Despite advances in technology, the rate continues to increase. This increases morbidity, health care costs and mortality. Aim: searching for risk factors of pressure ulcers in elderly patients admitted to acute geriatric care units. Methods: A case control study was conducted recruiting100 elderly male and female patients above the age of six ty. History and physical examination were done, as well as nutritional and functional assessment. Nursing care was assessed using a checklist and Braden scale was done as a risk assessment scale for pressure ulcers. Blood samples were collected for laboratory measures. Results: pressure ulcers result from contribution of many factors as cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, urinary incontinence, poor nutrition, immobility. Patients free from pressure ulcers had better nursing care with more frequent repositioning and use of air mattress (in more than 80%, compared use of air mattress in about 40% only of patients acquiring pressure ulcers). Braden scale was highly sensitive for the occurrence of pressure ulcers (cutoff point ≤ 17) with 77.4% positive predictive value and 97.3% negative predictive value. Conclusion: Pressure ulcers are multifactorial in origin. Nursing care is of utmost importance for their prevention. Braden scale should be applied to elderly pa tients upon admission to hospitals