title: ﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿The experience of a geriatric hospital at home service for acutely ill elderly patients with pressure ulcers: an observational study ﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿.
abstract: ﻿ ﻿﻿﻿﻿Background. Pressure ulcers are an often underestimated problem affecting elderly patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  An observational study was undertaken to evaluate patients admitted from January 2000 to December 2001 to a geriatric hospital affiliated at home service.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four hundred sixty-six patients (44.4% men and 55.6% women) were enrolled. Seventy-nine (16.9%) patients presented with a pressure ulcer upon admission. These patients were more functionally and cognitively impaired and had the poorest nutritional status. Anorexia and asthenia were significantly higher in patients with pressure ulcers (P < 0.001), and prevalence of constipation and dysphagia was significantly different between the two groups (P <0.05). Relative risk of new onset of pressure ulcers was significantly linked to age (1.09, CI 95% 1.02-1.15), to the number of functions lost (1.79, CI 95% 1.15-2.78), and to comorbidity (2.79, CI 95% 1.26-6.18). The relative risk of death during hospital admission was significantly linked to age (1.02, CI 95% 1.00-1.05), number of activities of daily living (ADL) functions lost (1.2, CI 95% 1.08-1.33), underweight (1.31, CI 95% 1.06-1.62), and the presence of pressure ulcers (1.59, CI 95% 1.23-2.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Home treatment of acutely ill elderly patients with pressure ulcers is feasible and efficacious. ﻿﻿﻿.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical and Surgical Disciplines, Geriatric Section, University of Torino, San Giovanni, Battista Hospital, Torino, Italy; Email: gianlucaisaia@yahoo.it.
authors.forename: Gianluca
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Isaia
authors.forename: Vittoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tibaldi
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scarafiotti
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ruatta
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Michelis
authors.forename: Nicoletta
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aimonino