Pressure ulcer prevalence in people with spinal cord injury: age-period-duration effects.
OBJECTIVE
To examine age-period-duration patterns of the prevalence of pressure ulcers in community-residing people with spinal cord injury (SCI).


METHODS
Multicenter cohort study.


METHODS
Nine Model Spinal Cord Injury Systems throughout the United States.


METHODS
People with SCI (N=3361) injured between 1986 and 1995 and followed up thereafter on a yearly basis through 2002.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
Physician-confirmed pressure ulcers of stage II or greater at the follow-up visits.


RESULTS
The multivariable generalized estimating equations model showed a significant trend toward increasing pressure ulcer prevalence in the recent years (1994-2002 vs 1984-1993: odds ratio=1.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.2-1.6) not explained by aging, years since injury, or demographic and clinical factors. The risk of pressure ulcers appeared to be steady during the first 10 years and increased 15 years postinjury. Pressure ulcers were more common among the elderly, men, African Americans, singles, subjects with education less than high school, unemployed, subjects with complete injury, and subjects with history of pressure ulcers, rehospitalization, nursing home stay, and other medical conditions. Injury cause and level had no significant effect.


CONCLUSIONS
These results highlight the need for research into factors that contribute to the increasing pressure ulcer prevalence.
Chen
Yuying
Y
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Alabama at Birmingham, 619 19th Street, Birmingham, AL 35249, USA. yychen@uab.edu
Devivo
Michael J
MJ
Jackson
Amie B
AB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044383:Black People; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009735:Nursing Homes; D010359:Patient Readmission; D011014:Pneumonia / Q000150:complications; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D001261:Pulmonary Atelectasis / Q000150:complications; D011655:Pulmonary Embolism / Q000150:complications; D012307:Risk Factors; D012847:Single Person; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014478:Unemployment; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D020246:Venous Thrombosis / Q000150:complications; D001741:Black or African American