Factores de riesgo para el desarrollo de úlceras por presión en unidades de cuidados intensivos

Abstract

Pressure ulcers (PUs) represent a worldwide socio-health problem due to the consequences on quality of life, decreased functional capacity, and high risk of death, in addition to the economic overload for the health system. This research aim was to present updated information on risk factors for developing pressure ulcers in intensive care units (ICU). This study was a systematic review project. Data were collected from studies in reliable and relevant databases. The inclusion criteria were investigations published since 2018 in English, Spanish, and Portuguese and descriptive and correlational analyses. The line of research was "Health and well-being by life cycle." Bibliographic sheets were employed to detail the article's information, including topic, objectives, author, year of publication, methodological description, and results. The method of screening studies was represented in the flow chart of the PRISMA 2021 statement. They revealed a mean prevalence of 35.5%; there was a statistically significant relationship (p=<0.05) with men, advanced age, low BMI, medications, medical devices, acute pathologies, comorbidities, and length of hospital stay. In conclusion, variation in the overall prevalence of PUs was evident. Risk factors included older adults, malnutrition, vasopressor and sedative drugs, mechanical ventilation, nasogastric tube usage, cardiac and respiratory pathologies, diabetes mellitus, albumin and hemoglobin alterations, and longer stay in ICU wards.