Prevalence of Pressure Ulcers and its Relative Distribution among Hospitalized Patients in Tertiary Care Hospitals of Lahore.

Author(s):

Muhammad Jabar, Hafiz Muddassir Riaz, Sajjad Ali Sajjad*, Arif Ali Rana, Irfan Ahmad and Sidra Khalid

Background: Pressure ulcer also known as bed sore is an area of localized damage to the skin and/or underlying tissue usually over a bony prominence as a result of pressure combined with shear and it has long been recognized as a major cause of morbidity, mortality and health care burden globally. Objective: Objective of the study is to find the prevalence of pressure ulcers in tertiary care hospitals of Lahore. Study design: Cross-sectional study design. Settings: Tertiary care hospitals of Lahore. Duration: Four months from August 2019 to November 2019. Methodology: Data was collected from 382 patients admitted in different wards of tertiary care hospitals in Lahore. Self- designed questionnaire was used which was validated through a pilot study. Chi square test was used for data analysis. Results: Out of 382 patients 257 (67%) were having pressure ulcers at the time of survey. Most prevalent site was coccyx with 21.4% prevalence, most of the pressure ulcers were in grade 2. ICU patients were mostly affected with pressure ulcers (45.9%). Conclusion: In this study 257 patients were found to have pressure ulcers. Most of them were having only one pressure ulcer at the most prone site of the body. Coccyx was the most common site of pressure ulcer development followed by sacrum. Most of the patients were receiving physical therapy care by an indoor physical therapist once in 24 hours. Most of the ulcers were in grade 2. Age, ward and physical therapy care were associated with each other. Those who were provided physical therapy care were having grade 2 pressure ulcers and those who were not provided with physical therapy care were having pressure ulcers in grade 3 and 4. Site of pressure was also in association with a number of pressure ulcers. Coccyx was the site with one, two or more than two pressure ulcers.