Medical conditions and risk associated with pressure ulcers

pressure ulcers constitute a grievance inherent in bedridden patients, with little or no mobility.Objetivo: to determine the pressure ulcers prevalence and analyze their association to clinical conditions and to risk factors in intensive care unit (ICU) patients.Method: it is a prospective and quantitative study, conducted with 45 patients in the public hospital ICU in Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil. Data were collected through hospital records, physical examination and the Braden Scale application. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and association tests.Results: it presented a 37.8% pressure ulcers prevalence, verifying significant association between the occurrence and the consciousness level, hydration and skin texture. It was also significant the association to the subscale friction and shear.Conclusion: the necessary involvement of the nursing staff to the preventive development in primary care to pressure ulcers is reaffirmed.