title: Age-specific characteristics of patients who develop pressure ulcers in the tertiary-care setting.
abstract: This article explores whether age-specific characteristics of patients who develop pressure ulcers in the tertiary-care setting are present at hospital admission. Characteristics of interest were prescribed activity, diet, and oxygen therapy; weight change in the last 30 days; midarm muscle circumference; triceps skin fold; and total protein, serum albumin, white blood cell count, hematocrit, and hemoglobin. The sample was composed of 67 subjects who developed pressure ulcers when hospitalized electively and admitted to the cardiovascular or neurosurgical services of a tertiary-care hospital. Chi square and analysis of variance were used to analyze the data and showed no significant difference in the characteristics of the two groups. Data did indicate that length of hospitalization and severity of illness are more important determinants of ulcer development than age-specific characteristics in this sample.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000209:etiology*