Munro EL, Hickling DF, Williams DM, Bell JJ, et al.
International wound journal. Date of publication 2018 Aug 1;volume 15(4):527-533.
1. Int Wound J. 2018 Aug;15(4):527-533. doi: 10.1111/iwj.12893. Epub 2018 May 24.
Malnutrition is independently associated with skin tears in hospital inpatient
setting-Findings of a 6-year point prevalence audit.
Munro EL(1), Hickling DF(2), Williams DM(3), Bell JJ(1)(2).
Author information:
(1)School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences, University of Queensland, St
Lucia, QLD, Australia.
(2)Nutrition and Dietetics & Allied Health Services, The Prince Charles Hospital,
Chermside, QLD, Australia.
(3)Wound Stoma Service, The Prince Charles Hospital, Chermside, QLD, Australia.
Skin tears cause pain, increased length of stay, increased costs, and reduced
quality of life. Minimal research reports the association between skin tears, and
malnutrition using robust measures of nutritional status. This study aimed to
articulate the association between malnutrition and skin tears in hospital
inpatients using a yearly point prevalence of inpatients included in the
Queensland Patient Safety Bedside Audit, malnutrition audits and skin tear audits
conducted at a metropolitan tertiary hospital between 2010 and 2015. Patients
were excluded if admitted to mental health wards or were <18 years. A total of
2197 inpatients were included, with a median age of 71 years. The overall
prevalence of skin tears was 8.1%. Malnutrition prevalence was 33.5%. Univariate
analysis demonstrated associations between age (P ˂ .001), body mass index (BMI)
(P < .001) and malnutrition (P ˂ .001) but not gender (P = .319). Binomial
logistic regression analysis modelling demonstrated that malnutrition diagnosed
using the Subjective Global Assessment was independently associated with skin
tear incidence (odds ratio, OR: 1.63; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.13-2.36) and
multiple skin tears (OR 2.48 [95% CI 1.37-4.50]). BMI was not independently
associated with skin tears or multiple skin tears. This study demonstrated
independent associations between malnutrition and skin tear prevalence and
multiple skin tears. It also demonstrated the limitations of BMI as a nutritional
assessment measure.
© 2018 Medicalhelplines.com Inc and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
DOI: 10.1111/iwj.12893
PMID: 29797534 [Indexed for MEDLINE]
