Objective.

To estimate the incidence of pressure ulcers (PU) in hospitalized adults and its relationship with prevention practices in adult intensive care units (ICU) in Colombian hospitals.

Methods.

This was a multicenter prospective cohort study in 31 non-COVID-19 ICUs from 11 hospitals in Colombia, including 1543 patients without ability to move, but with healthy skin, admitted consecutively upon admission to ICU. The primary outcome was the incidence of PU per 1,000 days of hospital stay.

Results

. The participants were mostly men (57.5%), with mean age of 59±18 years and body mass index of 25.5±4.6 kg/m2. The study observed 120 PU in 17 063 days of hospital stay, the majority were in the sacral region (60.0%) and heels (10.8%). Overall incidence was of 7.03 (95%CI 5.9-8.41) by 1000 days-patient. The PU incidence rate was double in ICUs of public hospitals than in private hospitals [Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) = 2.00; 95%CI: 1.30 to 3.01]. The risk of pressure ulcers was lower in hospitals that had skin-care group (IRR = 0.38; 95%CI: 0.25 to 0.58), used dressings [IRR = 0.66; 95%CI: 0.45 to 0.95] and support surfaces [IRR = 0.37; 95%CI: 0.24 to 0.59] in their preventive care practices.

Conclusion.

Much variability was noted in the PU incidence among the hospitals observed. However, Grade I and II ulcers and located in the sacral region continue having the highest incidence, according with global reference data. Hospital preventive care patterns reported a series of interventions administered in ICU that can be related with the risk of PU.

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