Pressure ulcers in critically ill patients: incidence and associated factors.

OBJECTIVE to identify the incidence and describe the associated factors for pressure ulcers in critically ill patients. METHOD this was a prospective cohort study with 77 patients, using a clinical, metabolic assessment and the associated factors for pressure ulcer, applying the risk scales (Braden and Waterlow) and assigning ulcers to categories. RESULTS an incidence of 22% (95% CI 12.6 - 31.5), with 17 patients with 32 pressure ulcers in the sacral region (47%), and of Class I (72%). The length of stay was greater than ten days (71%), most admissions were surgical (53%) or for congestive heart failure (24%), and were high risk on the Braden Scale (59%). CONCLUSION the study highlights the high incidence of pressure ulcers, clinical and metabolic characteristics and associated factors, as well as the outcome of death, requiring, therefore, preventive measures.