Pressure Ulcers in Institutionalized Elderly People: Association of Sociodemographic and Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the association of socio-demographic and clinical characteristics, and risk factors with occurrence of pressure ulcers in institutionalized elderly people. Method: This cross-sectional, analytical study, in quantitative approach, performed from the database analysis linked to the project “Pressure Ulcer in institutionalized elderly people: Association of incidence with the risk factors to functional and nutritional assessment” developed in six long-stay institutions for the elderly people in João Pessoa. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20.0. Associations were made through chi square test and Odds Ratio. Results: The clinical conditions of significant associations with the occurrence of pressure ulcers were the variables neurological disorders (p = 0.011) and visual impairment (p = 0.005). As for risk factors, the most important was fecal incontinence (p < 0.001), urinary incontinence (p < 0.001), cognitive impairment (p = 0.007) and physical limitation (p < 0.001). The chance for the occurrence of injury was nine times higher for elderly people with physical limitations and about three times higher among those who use diapers. Conclusion: The analysis of the associations pointed out problems that require intervention in order to prevent health implications of the elderly people and to minimize the risk and occurrence of this injury.