Clinical analysis of pressure ulcers in palliative care patients

Objective: By determining the preventable factors in the formation of pressure ulcers, it is aimed to increase the knowledge, attitudes and behaviors of doctors, nurses, assistant health personnel, patients and patient relatives. Method: This cross-sectional and retrospective study was conducted by examining inpatients in the Palliative Care Clinic of Şanlıurfa Harran University Research and Application Hospital between January 01, 2019 and April 30, 2022. A total of 120 people, 59 (49.2%) female and 61 (50.8%) male, with pressure ulcers were included in the study. SPSS 22.0 program was used for statistical analysis, and p< 0.05 was accepted as the level of significance using appropriate statistical analyzes. Findings: A total of 120 patients, 59 (49.2%) female and 61 (50.8%) male, were included in the study. Pressure ulcer stage in men was statistically significantly higher than in women (p=0.005). The pressure ulcer stage of patients with trauma-related disease was found to be statistically significantly higher than patients with neurological disease and other diseases (p=0.001). A statistically significant difference was found between gender and main disease and pressure ulcer staging (p=0.039; p=0.010, respectively). Stage 1,2 pressure ulcers were more common in women, while stage 3.4 pressure ulcers were more common in men. Stage 3,4 pressure ulcers were more common in trauma-related diseases. There was a moderate negative correlation between age and pressure ulcer stage (r=-0.354; p<0.001). A statistically significant difference was found between the ages of the patients and the staging of pressure ulcers (p=0.001). The ages of patients with stage 1 pressure ulcers are significantly higher than those of Stage 3 and Stage 4. BUN was moderately strong in the negative direction between creatinine, uric acid and total bilirubin and pressure ulcer stage; There was a weak and negative correlation between sodium, phosphorus and magnesium and the pressure ulcer stage. A moderately strong positive correlation was found between GFR and pressure ulcer stage (r=0.434; p<0.001). A statistically significant difference was found between the stages in terms of BUN, creatinine, uric acid, total bilirubin, magnesium and GFR values (p<0.05). There was a weak positive correlation between eosinophil and pressure ulcer stage (r=0.267; p=0.049). A weak negative correlation was found between MPV and pressure ulcer stage (r=-0.235; p=0.010). A statistically significant difference was found between the groups in terms of eosinophils, MPV and platelets (p<0.005). No significant relationship was found in terms of other parameters. Results: As a result, it is critical to evaluate the risks of pressure ulcers in the admission of palliative care patients to the service, to provide the necessary nutritional support and to educate caregivers on this issue. Primary care physicians are perhaps the group of physicians that play the most important role in meeting the increasing care needs of patients as they age. Key words: Pressure Ulcer, Palliative Care