Factors Associated with the Development of Skin Lesions in Hospitalized Patients Admitted to a Nursing Preventive Care Program in Colombia.
Gaby E Escobar, Ángela F Espinosa, Olga L Cortés and 1 others
PMID 41289528WHAT IT FOUND
Skin lesions in hospitalized patients clustered with hydrocolloid dressings, longer stay, parenteral or mixed nutrition, incontinence, BMI above 23, and cancer, respiratory, or cardiovascular diagnoses.
Nurses should treat these as risk markers, not proof dressings caused lesions.
Key findings
01In the decision tree, hydrocolloid dressing use and hospital stay were the most important variables, and profiles with hydrocolloid dressings had 70% probability of skin lesion versus 26% in profiles without.
02Cases more often had incontinence, mechanical ventilation, sedatives, antibiotics, vasoactive treatment, parenteral nutrition, and hydrocolloid dressings than controls.
03The highest-risk profile included cancer, respiratory failure, cardiovascular disorder, stay over 12 days, and hydrocolloid dressings, with a 90% probability of lesion.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
Single-center, high-complexity hospital, so profiles may not match lower-acuity wards. Retrospective chart data, with possible reporting bias in medical records. Pressure injury, incontinence-associated dermatitis, and medical adhesive related skin injury were analyzed together, so findings cannot guide lesion-specific prevention. The preventive program included support surfaces, fatty acids, protective foam, position changes, and notification clocks, so the study cannot separate the contribution of hydrocolloid dressings from other components. Decision-tree profiles include small subgroups, and some comparisons are based on few patients. The final year included COVID-19, which may have changed care complexity and skin lesion risk.
Declared interests
Funded by MINCIENCIAS under Code 277884467846, Contract No. 439-2020; the funding source played no role in design or results. No author conflicts of interest are reported.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read the 70% probability in hydrocolloid-dressing profiles as proof that dressings caused lesions. The study is observational, and dressings were part of a preventive program with many other components, so their effect cannot be separated.