Food-Intake Stability and Variability in Acutely Ill Older Adults Hospitalized in Internal Medicine Units

Aims: To identify the factors that has an impact on infected pressure ulcers healing among the elder outpatients. Methods: A retrospective study of data from elder outpatients with an infected pressure ulcer was conducted to identify factors that may affect their healing. Data from the elder outpatients between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2017, in a general hospital in Shanghai, China, who had an infected pressure ulcer that was assessed using the Pressure Ulcer Scale for Healing (PUSH), were abstracted. The following variables were examined: demographic characteristics (gender, age, culture background, marriage status, medical insurance), health status and disease data (chronic diseases, vital signs, mobility, nutrition, diagnosis, medication), laboratory values (albumin, hemoglobin, blood glucose), and pressure ulcer characteristics (stage, location, healing status, duration). Results: One hundred and eleven (158) patient records were identified. Patient mean age was 81.29 ± 9.62 years, the maximum age is 105, and the minimum age is 60. Most ulcers (64; 40.5%) were Stage III and located in the sacral area (87; 16.4%). The incidence of wound infection in elder outpatients with pressure injury was 27.3%. The average score of PUSH was 10.41 ± 3.137. Logistic regression revealed that diabetes, edema and wound duration were risk factors of the wound infection in patients with pressure injury (P<0.05), and regular treatment was a protective factor (P<0.05). Conclusions: Wound infection is a common complication of patients with pressure injury. The elder outpatients with diabetes, edema and long lasting wounds (≥1 month) are at a high risk of wound infection and healing.