Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Pressure Ulcers in a University Hospital in Bogota, Colombia

Introduction: Pressure ulcers are skin lesions that occur as a result of an ischemia process; this type of lesions is considered very important in the health context. Objective: To identify associated factors with the appearance of pressure ulcers in hospitalized patients over 16 years old, in a teaching hospital in Bogota Colombia during 2013. Materials and methods: A case-control study was carried out, based on a secondary information source. Some variables and their relationship with the presentation of pressure ulcers in each case were analyzed. Results: 228 patients were included, 114 cases, 114 controls, the bivariate analysis to identify the factors associated with the risk of presenting pressure ulcers: age equal to or greater than 45 years, pathologies of respiratory etiology, with levels of hemoglobin and albumin below the range expected for sex and age, multivariate analysis that patients older than 45 years, hemoglobin below the expected level by sex and age, have a high risk of presenting pressure ulcers for each day of hospital stay. Conclusions: The early identification of factors associated with pressure ulcers constitutes a fundamental pillar of care.