Diabetes Mellitus as a Risk Factor for Surgery-Related Pressure Ulcers

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine whether diabetes mellitus is associated with increased likelihood of surgery-related (perioperative) pressure ulcers. METHODS: The MEDLINE and Thomson Reuters Web of Knowledge electronic databases were searched for studies of diabetes as a risk factor for surgery-related pressure ulcers in case-control or cohort design; studies were limited to those published in English. Data from studies meeting inclusion criteria were pooled, and a meta-analysis was completed using the meta-analysis of observational studies in epidemiology (MOOSE) guidelines. Odds ratios for surgery-related pressure ulcers were calculated for patients with and without diabetes mellitus. RESULTS: Six observational studies were identified involving a total of 2453 patients. When compared to patients with normal glucose tolerance, persons with diabetes mellitus were more likely to experience surgery-related pressure ulcers (odds ratio = 2.15; 95% confidence interval: 1.62-2.84). CONCLUSION: Our meta-analysis indicates that patients with diabetes mellitus are slightly more than twice as likely to develop surgery-related pressure ulcers as compared to patients with normal glucose tolerance.