Major risk factors for the development of pressure ulcer in the elderly and the importance of nutrition in the treatment handling

• Autor(a) principal: Sakashita,Vanessa Motta Moreira
• Data de Publicação: 2011
• Outros Autores: Nascimento,Maria de Lourdes do
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Geriatrics, Gerontology and Aging (Online)
• Texto Completo: https://ggaging.com/details/230
• topic: Pressure ulcers, treatment, elderly, malnutrition, nutritional status.

<p>The pressure ulcers (PU) are defined as "An area of localized lesion of the skin and underlying tissues caused by pressure, shear stress, friction and / or a combination of factors". The UP is a major health problem, particularly in hospitals, resulting in increased costs, commitment to health and prolongation of hospitalization, with the individual elder group most susceptible to the onset of PU. This review aimed to analyze the factors that lead to the onset of UP in the elderly and identify strategies appropriate to the nutritional treatment. Several original papers and review articles, published since 2004, were searched in the databases Medline, PubMed and Lilacs, and used the following terms: pressure ulcer, treatment, elderly, malnutrition and nutritional status. Most published studies shows that the high prevalence of older people presenting this injury is in his most malnourished, or being hospitalized in geriatric institutions. Malnutrition affects both the formation of the lesion where there is a reduction of body tissue and the healing process. Malnutrition can predict the development of UP, one should note some causes such as persistent lack of appetite, dietary restrictions, dependence on assistance for eating, cognitive impairment, use of medications that interfere with appetite and psychosocial factors. Therefore, it is necessary to adopt strategies for prevention of pressure ulcers, including those related to recovery and maintenance of nutritional status.</p>