Preventing the occurrence of pressure ulceration in hospitalised elderly patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine which factors contribute to the development of pressure ulcers and to evaluate the role of topical agents in preventing their occurrence.


METHODS
An observational, prospective survey covered 36 care of the elderly wards and involved 1121 patients at high or very high risk of pressure ulceration. The patients, of whom 667 (59.6%) received a gentle application of a topical agent to at-risk areas, were followed up for eight weeks.


RESULTS
Of the patients, 15.7% developed a pressure ulcer. The use of a corpitolinol 60-based topical agent (Sanyrène/Corpitol) significantly reduced the incidence of pelvic pressure ulcers (p=0.04) when used with recognised prevention strategies. This was identified by undertaking a logistic regression analysis. The resulting odds ratio of 0.61 indicates that the intervention helped to reduce the number of pressure ulcers by 40%.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this observational study can provide a useful guide to the design of further randomised controlled trials.
Meaume
S
S
Geriatric Department, Hôpital Charles Foix, Ivry sur Seine, France. sylvie.meaume@cfx.ap-hop-paris.fr
Colin
D
D
Barrois
B
B
Bohbot
S
S
Allaert
F A
FA
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000279:Administration, Cutaneous; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001513:Beds; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003879:Dermatologic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D015577:Geriatric Assessment; D005989:Glycerides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007297:Inpatients; D016015:Logistic Models; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000187:drug effects; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing
D003879:Dermatologic Agents; D005989:Glycerides; C110597:sanyrene