title: ﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿﻿ ﻿Health-related Quality of Life and Depression in Older Patients With Pressure Ulcers﻿﻿﻿.
abstract: ﻿﻿ Objectives. To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and depression in older patients with pressure ulcers who were living at home in the community.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional analytical study conducted in southern Minas Gerais, Brazil. Forty-two outpatients 60 years and older, showing no cognitive deficit who were living in the community, participated in the study. They were divided into two groups: the study group (21 patients with pressure ulcers), and control group (21 patients without pressure ulcers). The instruments Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey questionnaire (SF-36), and 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) were used, respectively, to identify cognitive impairment, and assess HRQoL and depression.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the 36 pressure ulcers detected on examination, Stage II ulcers were the most common finding (50%), and the sacral region was the most common location (44.5%). Patients with pressure ulcers had significantly lower HRQoL scores than controls in all SF-36 domains, with the lowest scores being reported for physical functioning, role physical and role emotional (P <0.0001). Seventeen (80.9%) of the patients in the study group were identified as having depression (P = 0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A high rate of depression (GDS-15) was found in elderly patients with pressure ulcers, who also reported lower HRQoL scores in all SF-36 domains compared with controls.
authors.affiliation: ﻿Department of Clinical Medicine, Sapucai Valley University (UNIVAS), Brazil; Email: vitor_galhardo@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Vitor Angelo Carlucio
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Galhardo
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Garroni Magalhaes
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Blanes
authors.forename: Yara
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Juliano
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Masako Ferreira