Pressure Ulcers

Summary

Between 1 and 3 million people in the US develop a HAPU every year (1998). More than 2.5 million patients in US acute-care facilities suffer from pressure ulcers and 60, 000 die from pressure ulcer complications each year (2009). Hospital acquired Pressure ulcers reduce overall quality of life due to pain, treatments, increased length of institutional stay, and may also contribute to premature mortality in some patients. Interventions that may help prevent pressure ulcers or to treat them once they occur lead to reduction of cost of HAPU care and improve the quality of life for those affected.