RISK FACTORS OF CHRONIC DISEASES ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRESSURE ULCERS: ANALYTICAL RETROSPECTIVE STUDY

Background. The decision that uncontrolled chronic diseases exacerbate the incidence of pressure ulcers highlights the critical relationship between disease management and pressure ulcer prevention. When chronic conditions such as diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) are not properly controlled, they can contribute to factors like poor circulation, impaired healing, and decreased tissue integrity, all of which can increase the risk of developing pressure ulcers. Emphasizing the importance of managing chronic diseases effectively through medication adherence, lifestyle modifications, and regular monitoring is crucial in reducing the incidence and severity of pressure ulcers in at-risk patients. Aims. This study is aimed to assess the chronic diseases (DM and HTN) on the development of pressure ulcers analyzing the total number of patient survivors (no developed pressure ulcer), and non- survivors (developed pressure ulcer) among admitted patients. Methods. Before data collection, expedited approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board. This is a retrospective design where we used descriptive and inferential analysis to analyze the data. Binary logistic regression was done to ascertain the relationship between chronic disease history (DM and HTN) and pressure ulcers. Results. Results showed that male patients have a 4.295 times higher risk of developing pressure ulcers compared to female patients. On the other hand, patients with 1 unit age group older (increased) have a 3.321 times higher risk of developing pressure ulcers. As far as patients' chronic disease history is concerned, the study found a significant relationship between history of chronic disease and pressure ulcers, at a 0.05 significance level. The study found that patients with a single hypertension history, with a single diabetes history, and with both chronic diseases' history were found to have 6.965, 16.809, and 19.129 times, respectively, higher risk of developing pressure ulcers compared to patients without chronic disease history. Conclusion. Age group, gender, and history of chronic diseases (DM and HTN) were associated with the risk of pressure ulcers.