Prevalence of pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients in Germany in 2005: data from the Federal Statistical Office.
OBJECTIVE
Using the National Statistics ('DRG-Statistik') published by the Federal Statistical Office, we analyzed prevalences of pressure ulcers coded as principal or as additional diagnosis separately and describe differences in ulcer characteristics.


METHODS
Age-adjusted prevalence and tables for gender and age distribution of pressure ulcers separately for the principal diagnosis and for additional diagnoses were provided by the Federal Statistical Office.


RESULTS
In 2005, about 16 million patients were treated as full-time patients in German hospitals. 9,941 (0.06%) were referred with pressure ulcer as principal diagnosis and 191,040 (1.19%) had at least one additional diagnosis pressure ulcer. People >65 years of age had the highest risk for pressure ulcers (per 100,000 population principal diagnosis: females 52 and males 37; additional diagnosis: females 1,076 and males 947). Up to 80% of those who had the principal diagnosis pressure ulcer had ulcers grade 3 and 4, whereas 60% of the pressure ulcers documented as additional diagnosis were grade 1 and 2 (p < 0.001). The most frequent localizations of pressure ulcers were the ischium, the sacrum and the heel. In patients <65 years of age with the principal diagnosis pressure ulcer, the mortality rate is <0.1%. In the older age groups it increases gradually up to 10% in the 8th decade of life.


CONCLUSIONS
Pressure ulcers are still a relevant problem in Germany. Although patients 65 years and older are at the highest risk, all age groups are affected. Younger people seem to struggle with different problems compared to older people.
Kröger
Knut
K
Interdisciplinary Decubitus Project, Medical Faculty, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany. knut.kroeger@uk-essen.de
Niebel
Wolfgang
W
Maier
Irene
I
Stausberg
Jürgen
J
Gerber
Veronika
V
Schwarzkopf
Andreas
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006761:Hospitals / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000145:classification / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D055815:Young Adult