The association of BMI and Braden total score on the occurrence of pressure ulcers.
OBJECTIVE
We compared pressure ulcer (PU) prevalence patients with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more, and Braden Scale scores of 16 or more to patients with lower BMI.


METHODS
A cross-sectional study by using existing data was conducted combining patient skin status with BMI. Subjects underwent skin assessment for evidence of skin breakdown by nurses trained in PU assessment. Data from this assessment were combined with historic data gathered from review of medical records and BMI.


METHODS
The study was carried out in a tertiary medical center in Eastern North Carolina. Three hundred sixty-two patients were included in the prevalence study.


RESULTS
Fourteen percent of all patients had at least 1 PU. The prevalence among patients with a BMI of less than 40 was 12.5% as compared to 26% in patients with a BMI of more than 40 (P 5 .01). When controlling for the effects of BMI, patients with a Braden Scale score of 16 or less were almost 6 times more likely to have a PU as compared to those with Braden Scale scores of more than 16 (P, .001). Body mass index had an independent association with the probability of PU occurrence. Patients with BMIs of more than 40 were almost 3 times more likely to have a PU compared to those with BMIs of 40 or less, after controlling for Braden risk (P 5 .01).


CONCLUSIONS
A BMI of more than 40 and Braden Scale score of 16 or less were found to have an independent and statistically significant association with PU occurrence. Future studies should investigate the predictive validity of BMI along with individual Braden subscales.
Drake
Daniel J
DJ
Patient Care Services, Albemarle Health/University Health Systems Affiliate, Elizabeth City, NC, USA.
Swanson
Melvin
M
Baker
Gloria
G
Pokorny
Marie
M
Rose
Mary Ann
MA
Clark-Reed
Laurie
L
Waters
Wanda
W
Watkins
Frank R
FR
Engelke
Martha Keehner
MK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult