SCI Survey to Determine Pressure Ulcer Vulnerability in the Outpatient Population

Abstract

Our preliminary hypothesis is that there are factors, biological and psychosocial, that increase or reduce vulnerability to PrUs among spinal cord injured persons. A data extraction tool was created based on variables that are thought to impact PrU development. A retrospective review of 120 randomly sampled charts from patients undergoing the SCI Comprehensive Preventive Health Evaluation between Jan 1 and Dec 31, 2009 was conducted using this data extraction tool. This sample, which focuses on outpatient veterans with SCI, represents an older population than previously studied (mean age across all groups=62). 74% sustained their injury more than 10 years ago. 39% of the index sample reported never having a pressure ulcer, while 31% had 3 pressure ulcers since the time of injury. Key findings include: 1) Prolonged history of smoking is predictive of pressure ulcer vulnerability, 2) Advanced age does not increase PrU risk, 3) FIM score 87 predicts increased PrU risk, and 4) BMI of 26-30 may be protective. These data combined with additional risk factors identified in the literature will be validated in a prospective study with the objective to identify and protect SCI persons at highest risk of developing PrUs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2012
Accession Number
ADA580240

Entities

People

  • James A. Haley
  • Lisa J. Gould

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Biomedical Research
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Extraction
  • Health Services
  • Institutional Review Board
  • Literature
  • Literature Surveys
  • Natural Language Processing
  • Risk
  • Risk Analysis
  • Risk Factors
  • Skin Diseases
  • Social Psychology
  • Spinal Cord
  • Spinal Injuries
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Vulnerability

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

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