McGinnis, E, Greenwood, DC, Nelson, EA et al. (1 more author) (2013) A prospective cohort study of prognostic factors for the healing of heel pressure ulcers. Age and Ageing. ISSN 0002-0729
Abstract
Background: pressure ulcers, 25–30% of which are on the heels are a major burden to patients and healthcare systems. A better understanding of factors associated with healing is required to inform treatment and research priorities. Objectives: to identify patient and pressure ulcer characteristics associated with the healing of heel pressure ulcers. Study design and setting: patients with heel pressure ulcers were recruited to a prospective cohort study in a large teaching hospital in the UK, with a maximum 18-month follow-up. Cox proportional hazards model regression analysis was used to identify prognostic factors for healing. Results: one hundred and forty of 148 patients recruited were analysed. They had 183 pressure ulcers: 77 ulcers healed, 5 were on limbs amputated prior to ulcer healing, 88 were on patients who died prior to healing, 11 were present at the end of the study and 2 were lost to follow-up. The median time to healing was 121 (range 8–440) days. Of 12 variables associated with healing (P ≤ 0.2), multi-variable analysis identified two factors which were independently predictive of healing including the presence of a severe (versus superficial) ulcer (hazard ratio = 0.48, P < 0.1) and the presence of peripheral arterial disease (hazard ratio = 0.40, P < 0.1). Conclusions: increased ulcer severity and the presence of peripheral arterial disease significantly reduced the probability of healing. Treatments for heel pressure ulcers should consider the severity of the ulcer and the presence of peripheral arterial disease.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Age and Aging following peer review. The definitive publisher-authenticated version, McGinnis, E, Greenwood, DC, Nelson, EA and Nixon, J (2013) A prospective cohort study of prognostic factors for the healing of heel pressure ulcers. Age and Ageing is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/aft187. |
Keywords: | cohort study; heel; older people; pressure ulcer; prognosis; wound healing |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Healthcare (Leeds) > Nursing Adult (Leeds) The University of Leeds > Faculty of Medicine and Health (Leeds) > School of Medicine (Leeds) > Leeds Institute of Genetics, Health and Therapeutics (LIGHT) > Division of Epidemiology & Biostatistics (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 24 Jan 2014 12:59 |
Last Modified: | 01 Jan 2015 01:38 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/ageing/aft187 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Oxford University Press |
Identification Number: | 10.1093/ageing/aft187 |
Related URLs: | |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:77475 |