A Cross- Sectional Prevalence Study of Pressure Injuries in Intensive Care Units and High Dependency Units of a Tertiary Care Hospital in South India

Pressure injuries, also known as a pressure ulcer, pressure sore or bed sore, is defined as a localized lesion in skin and/or underlying tissues, often in areas of bony prominences, such as the heels, hips, sacrum, or elbows. It is caused by prolonged pressure or a combination of pressure, shear, and friction forces. (1) The severity of pressure ulcers can range from mild skin redness (stage 1) to partial or full-thickness tissue loss, including fat, muscle, and bone (stages 2, 3, and 4). (2).  Morbidities like diabetes, smoking, malnutrition, vascular diseases, prolonged immobility, moisture, sleeping on hard surfaces and sensory disturbances contribute to increased prevalence of pressure sores. Pressure sores are an indicator of a patient’s safety and quality of care. A study conducted by Barratt et al. showed that pressure sores increase the workload of health care providers by 50%. (3)

Prevalence varies in different health centers and from country to country. Following cancer and cardiac disease, pressure injuries are  the  most  expensive health care problem in all care settings. (10) Proper prevention, early detection, and appropriate management are crucial in the care of pressure ulcers. Healthcare professionals, including nurses, doctors, and wound care specialists, play an essential role in assessing and providing treatment for individuals with pressure ulcers. Awareness of the status of pressure injuries  is  the  first step  in  planning  for the reduction of its prevalence in ICUs. Having an accurate estimation of the prevalence of PU  in  ICUs and HDUs can thus be beneficial in making informed healthcare decisions to effectively manage and control this issue.