期刊名称：International Journal of Innovative Research in Science, Engineering and Technology
印刷版ISSN：2347-6710
电子版ISSN：2319-8753
出版年度：2015
卷号：4
期号：3
页码：1408
DOI：10.15680/IJIRSET.2015.0403084
出版社：S&S Publications
摘要：Pressure ulcers are wounds caused to skin and tissue lying beneath because of persistent pressure on theskin. Bedsores most often develop on skin that covers bony areas of the body, such us the heels, ankles, hips andtailbone. People mostly affected by bedsores are those with a poor medical condition that has removed their ability toadjust positions, necessitate them to use a wheelchair or confines them to a bed for a long time. Bedsores can easilydevelop and are often difficult to treat. Pressure ulcer, also known as pressure sores or bed sores is found to prevail in10% of hospitalized patients as per the statistical report provided by the National Center of Health Statistics (NCHS) inthe year 2009. Yet another report provided by the Agency for Health care Research and Quality (AHRQ) divulges afear-provoking reality that 1-25 percent of admitted patients with this particular setback, terminated in death. Thisposes a serious threat of 2.5 million patients being affected per year.Pressure ulcers cost several billion dollars per yearin the US. Cost of individual patient care ranges from $20,900 to 151,700 per pressure ulcer. Medicare estimated in2007 that each pressure ulcer added $43,180 in costs to a hospital stay. Pressure ulcers may be associated with severepain. About 60,000 patients die as a direct result of a pressure ulcer each year. More than 17,000 lawsuits are related topressure ulcers annually. It is the second most common claim after wrongful death and greater than falls or emotionaldistress.
