Prevalence of acute and chronic wounds – with emphasis on pressure ulcers – in integrated continuing care units in Alentejo, Portugal

Abstract

The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence and general characteristics of acute and chronic wounds in 2018 in Alentejo (Portugal) continuing care units. In order to look at associations, wound characteristics studied were location, type, place of acquisition, number, and duration, and patient characteristics were sex, age, and presence of risk factors. During the first 2 weeks of February 2018, a total of 770 patients were assessed at continuing care units of Alentejo. Of these, 135 exhibited wounds, a prevalence of 17.5%. Almost two out of three patients (63%) had arterial hypertension, slightly more than one in three (37%) had a stroke and/or immobility and 30% had diabetes. Of the total wounds identified, 18% were acute wounds and 82% were chronic wounds. Of the 24 acute wounds, traumatic wounds (76%), and surgical wounds (22%) were the most prevalent. The four types of pressure ulcers represented 80% of the chronic wounds. The median duration of the pressure ulcers was 5.5 months and 25% had duration over 10 months.

Content Validity and Reliability of the Pressure Ulcer Knowledge Test and the Knowledge Level of Portuguese Nurses at Long-Term Care Units: A Cross-Sectional Survey

“…A point prevalence survey conducted three years later, using the same instrument in a homogenous group of patients, found that PU grades 3 and 4 continued to be the most prevalent complex wounds reported. PU represented 65.1% of all wounds [15] with poor healing rates. The literature shows that more severe stages are associated with a higher risk of complications such as critical colonisation, cellulitis, osteomyelitis, increased costs [16,17] and potential death.…”

Recent Advances in Nanozymes for Bacteria-Infected Wound Therapy

“…52,53 Chronic wounds are often caused by chronic diseases and complications caused by their care, and even acute wounds caused by improper treatment or infection (such as diabetic foot ulcers, acute orthopedic wounds, venous leg ulcers, ischemic ulcers, pressure ulcers, etc.). [54][55][56][57] In chronic wounds, common features are usually depicted compared with normal wound healing, including nonmigrating epidermis, unresolved inflammation, fibrosis, presence of infection, and biofilm formation (Figure 1). Although there is an increase in neutrophils and macrophages, not all are properly functioning.…”

Yara Polikliniğine Başvuran Hastaların Yara Takip Sonuçlarının Değerlendirilmesi

“…Literatürde periferik dolaşım bozukluğu, kardiyovasküler sorunlar, diyabetes mellitus, nörolojik hastalıklar, beslenme sorunları vb. gibi yara oluşumu ve iyileşmesi üzerinde etkili pek çok risk faktöründen bahsedilmektedir (13,14). Çalışmadan elde edilen bulgulara bakıldığında hastaların çoğunluğunun diyabet (%75,9), kalp (%50) ve dolaşım sistemi (%43,7) hastalığı tanısı olduğu belirlenmiştir.…”