Pressure Ulcer Trends in the United States: A Cross-Sectional Assessment from 2008-2019

Abstract

Introduction Decubitus ulcers are a morbid and costly problem faced by healthcare systems and patients across the country. We aim to examine current patterns and characteristics of patients admitted to the hospital with a pressure ulcer. Materials and methods From a nationally representative sample of hospital discharge records, the Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS), patients with a diagnosis of pressure ulcer 2008-2019 were identified. Patient volume, demographic and clinical data were analyzed for change over time. Results The volume of pressure ulcer patients as a proportion of all hospital patients remained constant from 2008 to 2019 ( P = .479). During the study period, the proportion of ulcer patients that underwent an ulcer-related procedure significantly decreased ( P < .001) while the proportion of ulcers considered severe significantly increased ( P < .001). Conclusions Our analysis suggests the prevalence of decubitus ulcers remained stable during the time period, with increased severity but reduced frequency of operative intervention.