Pressure ulcers in older adults

Abstract

The problem of pressure ulcers is an issue that has a great impact on patient morbidity and mortality, so risk assessment and nursing care to prevent them have become one of the most important actions to reduce the incidence of pressure ulcers. This work aimed to conduct a literature review on pressure ulcers in elderly patients. A descriptive literature review study of digital documents was conducted between 2017 and 2021; 1,156 documents were recorded, of which 1,126 were excluded, finally selecting 30 documents. This study concludes that the prevalence of pressure ulcers in the elderly population increased to 7.43% in Latin American hospitals. The most found associated factors are moderate and severe cognitive impairment, a functional level of partial or total dependence, the presence of urinary incontinence, among others. On the other hand, according to the studies reviewed, it was shown that the complications generated by the appearance of pressure ulcers in the elderly can alter health and quality of life, leading to disability or even death. Prevention of pressure ulcers can be effective if adequate health strategies are followed, such as changes in position when the patient is bedridden, skincare, and supportive measures.