An investigation of the relationship between pressure sores and nutritional levels in palliative care patients

To investigate the relationship between pressure sores and nutrition in palliative care patients. This descriptive and cross-sectional study included 60 patients who were hospitalized in Ünye State Hospital and Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University Palliative Care Unit between 15.03.2023-15.09.2023. The Socio-Demographic Information Form, Braden Risk Assessment Scale and Nutritional Risk Score (NRS-2002) of all patients who met the inclusion criteria were examined together with the face-to-face interview method. Routine biochemistry and hemogram results of the patients were obtained and anthromopetric measurements (upper arm, calf type) were made and their characteristics were used. The data obtained from the study were analyzed with SPSS.22.0 program. For statistical analysis, independent T test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Post Hoc Turkey HSD were used. Kruskal Wallis analysis was used in normally distributed groups. Pearson distribution analysis and Chi-square tests were used to determine correlational analysis. Statistical significance level was taken as p<0,05. Of the 60 patients included in the study, 58,3% were male, the mean age was 72,35 years and 68,3% were 70 years or older. The primary diagnosis was cancer in 45%, neurologic disease in 28,3% and general condition disorder in 26,7%. The mean upper arm circumference was 24,73 cm and the mean calf circumference was 33,27 cm. The mean NRS score was 3,20 and the mean Braden Risk score was 17,3. Fifty percent of the patients were orally fed and 38,3% had pressure sores. The most common stage of pressure sores was stage 4. It was determined that 65,2% of the pressure sores were mostly on the sacrum. A significant difference was found between the dietary patterns of the patients and NRS score (p<0,05). A significant difference was found between NRS score and pressure sore status (p<0,05). When pressure sore status and dietary patterns were analyzed statistically, a significant difference was found between them (p<0,05). There was a significant difference between the nutritional patterns of the patients and the Braden Risk score and between the NRS risk assessment and the Braden risk assessment (p<0,05). A significant relationship was found between NRS scores and Braden Risk scores (p<0,05). There was a significant difference between albumin and NRS risk assessment (p<0,05). There was a significant negative correlation between albumin and NRS score and a significant positive correlation with Braden Risk score (p<0,05). It can be said that it is important to evaluate patients with screening tools to determine whether they are at risk in terms of nutrition and pressure sores when they will be hospitalized in palliative care, and an important step should be taken to prevent pressure sores by giving the necessary nutritional supplements according to these results. Keywords: Palliative care, pressure ulcers, nutrition