The proportion of hospital-acquired pressure ulcers has increased

The result from the Swedish 2021 point prevalence measurement shows an increase in the proportion of pressure ulcers compared with the year before. The national survey, which is usually carried out in week 10, was postponed to week 37 due to the current situation in healthcare. The 2020 survey was carried out in spring just before the coronavirus had reached a greater societal spread.

The national survey from 2021, conducted by SKR shows that the proportion of patients with pressure ulcers of all categories has increased to 14% compared with 11% the previous year. The proportion of hospitalized pressure ulcers has also increased – from 8 percent to 11 percent.

The survey states that individualized measures, rapid feedback of results, and preventive materials were important success factors in the work of preventing pressure ulcers. Care of Sweden provides an action plan for pressure ulcers that you can download and use as a guide in preventive care work.