title: Low serum albumin level as an independent risk factor for the onset of pressure ulcers in intensive care unit patients.
abstract: Critically ill patients are at high risk of developing pressure ulcers (PUs) and patients who develop PUs remain significantly longer in the intensive care unit (ICU) with significantly increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, the identification of patients at truly increased risk is important. The aim of this study was to examine the association of low serum albumin present at admission in ICU patients with the onset of PUs. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on 610 patients who were admitted to intensive care unit. Level of serum albumin and other biochemical indices, recorded at the time of admission, were collected. We collected information about PU occurrence after admission and conducted a statistical analysis with biomarkers at ICU admission and during hospital stay. The incidence of PU in the ICUs was 31% and about 70% of patients with PUs had hypoalbuminemia at admission. The lowest values of serum albumin in patients with PUs were directly proportional to the severity of ulcers. In this study, we found a close association between serum albumin and PUs. In fact serum albumin was negatively correlated with PU and may be considered one of the independent determinants of PU occurrence in patients admitted to ICUs.
authors.affiliation: Chair of Surgery, Department of Surgical and Medical Science, University Magna Graecia of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.forename: Santo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Caroleo
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Buffone
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lugarà
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Molinari
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tropea
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amantea
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de Franciscis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000172:deficiency*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D012709:Serum Albumin