Nutritional Interventions for Pressure Ulcer Prevention in Hip Fracture Patients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Controlled Trials

Background/Objective: Pressure ulcers represent a significant complication in patients with reduced mobility, such as those recovering from hip fractures. In the present study, we aimed to comprehensively assess the impact of oral nutritional interventions on the development of pressure ulcers in hip fracture patients via a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies evaluating the effectiveness of oral nutritional supplements compared with standard care. Methods: In accordance with PRISMA standards, this systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled studies evaluated the effectiveness of any type of oral nutritional supplements compared with standard care in hip fracture patients. The risk of bias was evaluated using the Cochrane ROB2 tool for randomized controlled trials and the ROBINS-1 tool for nonrandomized trials. Results: Fourteen studies (10 randomized controlled trials and 4 controlled trials) published since 1990 (n = 1648) were included. Oral nutritional supplementation was associated with a statistically significant decrease in the odds ratio of developing pressure ulcers in hip fracture patients (OR 0.54, 95% CI: 0.40-0.73, p < 0.001). Conclusions: The incidence and evolution of pressure ulcers can be improved by oral dietary supplementation in patients who have undergone hip fracture surgery. Accordingly, we propose that oral nutritional supplementation should be considered an essential component of comprehensive post-hip-fracture care.