Eleven percent of older patients have pressure injuries when admitted to skilled nursing facilities for post-acute stroke rehabilitation, a new study has found. Certain factors make such a diagnosis more likely, investigators said.
Study participants included 65,000 adults aged 65 years and older who were discharged to SNFs following acute care for stroke. Investigators examined the prevalence of pressure wounds upon admission and investigated factors that contributed to deep and superficial injury.
When compared to patients with superficial wounds, patients with deep pressure wounds were more likely to be younger than 75 years, non-Hispanic Black and have a lower socioeconomic status. Many had experienced an intensive care unit stay, had higher functional impairments, skin integrity issues, system failure and infections
Providing care for pressure injuries early in stroke rehab may help improve these patients’ overall clinical outcomes and reduce costs, said Shilpa Krishnan, PhD, PT, of the Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, and colleagues.
The findings, including more analysis of SNF skin care and restorative treatments for these patients, were published in JAMDA.
From the October 2022 Issue of McKnight's Long-Term Care News
