Factors Associated with Pressure Injury Among Critically Ill Patients in a Coronary Care Unit

Objective: To ascertain the incidence of pressure injuries (PIs) in patients in the coronary care unit (CCU), identify PI characteristics, and determine associated risk factors. Methods: Researchers conducted a retrospective investigational study of patients' medical records. A total of 820 patients who were admitted to the CCU between January 2018 and December 2020 met the study criteria. Of these, 200 patients who developed PIs after admission to the CCU were included in this study. This study examined the clinical features of PIs, as well as five PI risk factors: patient characteristics; length of stay; intrinsic factors; care factors, including medical devices; and vasopressor agents. Results: The incidence of PIs among patients in the CCU was 24.4%. At initial detection, 79.5% of these injuries were already at stage 2 or higher. The results indicated a significant correlation between PI stage and hemoglobin level. Moreover, the authors also found relationships between the use of medical devices (eg, arterial catheters, oxygen tubes, and Levin tubes) and PI onset. Conclusions: Critically ill patients in the CCU use various medical devices for an extended period with severe consequences. The risk factors affecting PI are multifactorial. Therefore, the implementation of PI prevention and early detection strategies for patients in the CCU are crucial.