Efficacy of a motorized air support to prevent pressure ulcers in at-risk patients hospitalized in rehabilitation departments: incidence and prevalence studies.

BACKGROUND: The main objective was to assess the reduction of the pressure ulcers prevalence which could be obtained if AscalisOptimo®mattresses were made available ad libitumin rehabilitation services (RS) by comparison to prevalence as observed in the national PERSE study (historical control) in similar departments using a variety of prevention aids.

METHODS: This cross-sectional prevalence study was combined with a prospective study of the incidence of pressure ulcer occurrence in the high-risk target population whose beds were systematically equipped with the studied support.

RESULTS: The prevalence study shows that 12 of the 369 patients presented pressure ulcers which occurred during the period when AscalisOptimo® corresponds to a prevalence of 3.3% [1.4, 5.1] which is significantly lower than those recorded in the PERSE study: 11.8% [10.8; 12.8] p <0.0001. The ulcer incidence study was conducted on 71 patients hospitalized on a bed with an AscalisOptimo®support because of their high risk of pressure ulcers. One pressure ulcer occurred in 4 patients, 2 pressure ulcers occurred in one patient and 3 pressure ulcers occurred in another patient, i.e. 6 out of 71 corresponding to an incidence of 8.5% [3.2; 17.5].

CONCLUSIONS: The significant decrease of the prevalence of pressure ulcer in the rehabilitation departments where AscalisOptimo®were available when compared to the current prevalence observed in rehabilitation services as well as results of the study of pressure ulcer incidence in patients bedridden on AscalisOptimo®, shows the benefit provided to patients in terms of pressure ulcers prevention.