Factors associated with the incidence of pressure wounds in critical patients: a cohort study

OBJECTIVES: to identify the incidence of pressure wound in critical patients and its associated factors. METHODS: retrospective cohort study, based on the analysis of 369 critical patients’ records. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used, as well as logistic regression. RESULTS: the incidence of pressure wounds was 11.4%. Patients who had been hospitalized for four days or more (OR 2.99; CI95% 1.15-7.78), used nasoenteric tubes (OR: 3.81; CI95%: 1.4010.38), vesical drainage catheters (OR: 4.78; CI95%: 1.31-17.38) and tracheostomy (OR: 3.64; CI95%: 1.48-8.97) had a higher chance of developing pressure wounds. The mean score of the Braden scale among participants who developed (14.2 points) pressure wounds was statistically different (p<0.001) than that of those who did not (12.3 points). CONCLUSIONS: the incidence of pressure wounds was associated with a higher time in the unit, the use of nasoenteric tubes, vesical drainage catheters, and tracheostomies were associated with a higher time of hospitalization in the unit.