title: Features of pressure ulcers in hospitalized older adults.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objectives of this study were to examine the prevalence and risk of pressure ulcers (PrUs) among hospitalized patients 65 years or older in a university hospital setting and to assess the potential for prevention and healing in that population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The retrospective study conducted at the general medicine departments of Ege University Hospital in Izmir, Turkey, included 209 patients (115 females, 94 males) 65 years or older, who had been admitted to the hospital for a variety of reasons between April 1, 2011, and October 1, 2011. The following tools were used to collect data: a data collection form to identify the sociodemographic and medical characteristics of the patients, the Braden Risk Assessment Scale to assess the risk of PrUs, and a form to monitor PrUs, which included the site of the PrU, the category, and the PUSH (Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing) score, a tool for tracking changes in PrUs status applied at weekly intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean patient age was 73 (6.4) years. The prevalence of PrUs was 5.8% during the hospital stay. Pressure ulcers appeared most frequently in the ischeal tuberosity area (40%), and 45.2% of all PrUs observed were category II. The comorbidities of the patients who had PrUs were as follows: rheumatoid arthritis, 40% (n = 5); acute renal failure, 24% (n = 3); multiple myeloma, 8% (n = 1); chronic renal failure, 8% (n = 1); pneumonia, 8% (n = 1); and acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 8% (n = 1).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pressure ulcers are a common healthcare complication in the older adult population, with potentially severe consequences. The most important intervention that healthcare professionals can make to reduce PrUs is to determine and address risk factors.
authors: Hülya Eskiizmirli Aygör, MSN, is a Nurse; Sevnaz Sahin, MD, is a Physician; and Basak Baydal, HN, is the Senior Director of Nursing, Internal Medicine at the Ege University Medical Faculty, Internal Medicine Department Geriatrics Section in Izmir, Turkey. Emine Sözen, MSN, is a Research Assistant; and Fisun Senuzun Aykar, Prof Dr, is an Instructor at the Ege University Izmir Ataturk Institute of Health Science in Izmir, Turkey. Fehmi Akcicek, Prof Dr, is a Professor at Ege University.
authors: Hülya Eskiizmirli
authors: HE
authors: Aygör
authors: Sevnaz
authors: S
authors: Sahin
authors: Emine
authors: E
authors: Sözen
authors: Basak
authors: B
authors: Baydal
authors: Fisun Senuzun
authors: FS
authors: Aykar
authors: Fehmi
authors: F
authors: Akçiçek
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000458:organization & administration; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014421:Turkey