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. 2020 Aug;17(4):1002-1010.
doi: 10.1111/iwj.13364. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

Prevalence of acute and chronic wounds - with emphasis on pressure ulcers - in integrated continuing care units in Alentejo, Portugal

Kátia A X Furtado  1 , Paulo Infante  2 , Ana Sobral  3 , Pedro Gaspar  4 , Graça Eliseu  5 , Manuel Lopes  6
Affiliations

Prevalence of acute and chronic wounds - with emphasis on pressure ulcers - in integrated continuing care units in Alentejo, Portugal

Kátia A X Furtado et al. Int Wound J. 2020 Aug.

Abstract

The aim of the study was to describe the prevalence and general characteristics of acute and chronic wounds in 2018 in Alentejo (Portugal) continuing care units. In order to look at associations, wound characteristics studied were location, type, place of acquisition, number, and duration, and patient characteristics were sex, age, and presence of risk factors. During the first 2 weeks of February 2018, a total of 770 patients were assessed at continuing care units of Alentejo. Of these, 135 exhibited wounds, a prevalence of 17.5%. Almost two out of three patients (63%) had arterial hypertension, slightly more than one in three (37%) had a stroke and/or immobility and 30% had diabetes. Of the total wounds identified, 18% were acute wounds and 82% were chronic wounds. Of the 24 acute wounds, traumatic wounds (76%), and surgical wounds (22%) were the most prevalent. The four types of pressure ulcers represented 80% of the chronic wounds. The median duration of the pressure ulcers was 5.5 months and 25% had duration over 10 months.

Keywords: chronic wounds; continuing care units; pressure ulcer; prevalence.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Prevalence of wounds in each treatment unit. n is the number of patients in each treatment unit. CU, convalescent units; LDMU, long duration and maintenance units; MDRU, medium duration and rehabilitation units
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Distribution of pressure ulcers according to origin
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Distribution of patients according to gender and the duration of the most severe pressure ulcer
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Distribution of the duration of the most severe pressure ulcer wound according to its category
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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