Professor Gojiro Nakagami, PhD, RN, in Department of gerontological nursing/wound care management
Pressure injuries (PIs) are a common issue in older adults, particularly in those with dementia, where standardized treatments are lacking. This retrospective cohort study aimed to assess how dementia status affects PI care practices and healing outcomes upon discharge. Using data from 2014–2015, the study analyzed 20,386 patients aged 65 and older from 1,198 hospitals.
The results showed that 47.3% of patients had severe dementia, 20.1% had mild dementia, and 32.5% had no dementia. Patients with severe dementia were significantly less likely to receive advanced treatments, such as skin grafts or flap surgeries, compared to those without dementia. Additionally, severe dementia was associated with lower rates of PI healing at discharge. These findings suggest disparities in PI treatment based on dementia severity and emphasize the need for tailored care strategies to improve outcomes in this vulnerable population.
Access the full paper here: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39460423/