Has the Pandemic Changed the Effectiveness of Pressure Ulcer Care in non-COVID Intensive Care Units? A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Abstract

Objective: Critically ill patients, such as intensive care patients, are highly vulnerable to pressure ulcers (PUs). Due to the increased workforce brought by the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been changes in the number of patients and the quality of follow-up. The primary aim of our study is to examine the effects of the first year of the pandemic on pressure ulcer follow-up and treatment strategies for patients hospitalized in non-COVID intensive care units (ICU). The secondary aim is to examine the effect of nutritional support. Methods: The data of 120 patients who were followed up in the non-COVID ICU for at least 2 weeks between January–March 2021(Group 1) and January–March 2020 (Group 2) and followed up with PUs were retrospectively analyzed. In addition to the demographic data and comorbidities of the patients, admission from the nursing home, stages of PUs at admission, changes in stages, and nutritional parameters were recorded. Results: While an increase in the PU stage was detected in 24 patients in Group 1, no increase in the stage of the wound was observed in Group 2 (32.0 vs 0, p=0.000). The transferrin value measured during hospitalization was found to be lower in Group 1 (1.23 vs 1.43, p=0.008). In Group 1, the prealbumin value decreased (0.9 vs 0.2, p=0.008) on day 15 compared with the hospitalization and C-reactive protein value increased. In Group 2, the albumin value was found to be lower (2.5 vs 2.3, p=0.047) on day 15 compared with the day of hospitalization. Conclusion: In the first year of the pandemic, there was an increase in the existing pressure ulcer stage and a decrease in the nutritional status in patients hospitalized in the ICU for non-COVID reasons. We believe that this might be due to the increased patient care needs and the burnout of healthcare staff due to the COVID pandemic.