A regression analysis of the Waterlow score in pressure ulcer risk assessment.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the predictive value of the Waterlow score, and the subscores of age and gender.


METHODS
Logistic regression analysis was conducted on the two subscores of the Waterlow score, and the residual Waterlow score with gender and age removed. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis gave a quantitative measure of the classification ability of the Waterlow score.


METHODS
Burton, UK.


METHODS
All admissions over a five-year period to the District General Hospital, a total of 150,015 admissions of 82,691 patients.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
Area under the ROC curve for significant (as determined by logistic regression) variables.


RESULTS
Data were inaccurate in at least 44.7% of the records, and analysis was conducted on the 43,735 records for which no errors were apparent. Nine hundred and fifty-four patients had a pressure ulcer on admission (2.1%); 277 developed a pressure ulcer (0.6%). The Waterlow score was predictive of pressure ulcers. Age was predictive, and gender was not found to be a significant predictor.


CONCLUSIONS
The Waterlow score may be improved and simplified by removing gender from the scoring system.
Anthony
Denis
D
Mary Seacole Research Centre, School of Nursing & Midwifery, De Montfort University, Leicester, UK. danthony@dmu.ac.uk
Reynolds
Tim
T
Russell
Linda
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006751:Hospital Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007902:Length of Stay; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010343:Patient Admission; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012372:ROC Curve; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology