Body composition and pressure ulcer occurrence: An integrative review

Abstract

Objective: to analyze the relationship between body composition and interface pressure distribution under bony prominences and the occurrence of pressure injury. Method: this is an integrative literature review conducted in the PubMed, CINAHL, Lilacs, Embase®, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, published between 1990 and July 2018. Results: nine studies were selected and classified into two thematic categories. The first category addressed the relationship of pressure injury with nutritional classification and the second the relationship of body composition with interface pressure. The risk of pressure injury was related to the decrease in lean body mass, body water content and extreme body mass index; besides higher incidence in institutionalized elderly with fat mass reduction. Conclusion: there was a relationship between body composition and the occurrence of pressure injury, showing differences between adults and the elderly.