BACKGROUND: Pressure ulcers are one of many complications to which hospitalized patients are susceptible. Such ulcers may lead to partial or total destruction of cutaneous, subcutaneous, and muscular tissues, as well as of bones and articulations. METHODS: An observational, longitudinal, and prospective study was carried out at Hospital Metropolitano de Urgência e Emergência em Ananindeua, PA, Brazil. Relevant data related to gender, age (younger or older than 60 years old), impairment degree, and region of pressure ulcer impairment were collected from Intensive Care Therapy 1 (UTI 1), Surgical Clinic 1, and the Neuro Clinic. RESULTS: Among 474 studied patients, 17 developed pressure ulcers, with greater incidence among male patients (88.2%), at stage II (41.2%) and in the sacral region (40%). Patients aged more than 60 years had an incidence rate of 58.8% for pressure ulcers. CONCLUSIONS: Data obtained in this study are in accordance with the results presented in the literature. It is important to highlight the need for creating risk scales and preventive measures for decreasing the incidence of pressure ulcers in hospitals.
Pressure ulcer; Skin ulcer; Incidence
