Epidemiology of Risk Factors for Pressure Ulcers in the Medical Ward of Sominé Dolo Hospital in Mopti [Mali]

Introduction: Pressure ulcers impair patients’ quality of life. Although a source of pain and discomfort, they are not inevitable. They represent a complication in the care of many hospitalised patients. Although preventable, they are most commonly observed in elderly people or those with physical disabilities. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiology of pressure ulcers in the medical ward of Sominé Dolo Hospital in Mopti. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 in the medical ward of Sominé Dolo Hospital in Mopti. This study included all hospitalised patients who, on the day of the survey, had one or more pre-existing or newly acquired pressure ulcers. The diagnosis of pressure ulcers was based primarily on clinical findings. A pressure ulcer was defined as the presence of a soft-tissue wound between the surface on which the patient was lying and the underlying bone. Results: out of 321 hospitalised patients, 21 had pressure ulcers, representing a prevalence of 6.54 per cent. The mean age was 56.38 years. Men accounted for 52.4 per cent and women for 47.6 per cent. The sites affected were the occiput [9.5 per cent], the ears [4.8 per cent], the back [19 per cent], the shoulder blade region [9.5 per cent], the heels [14.3 per cent], the toes [9.5 per cent], the iliac crests [23.8 per cent], the sacrum [76.2 per cent], the trochanter [52.4 per cent], the malleoli [9.5 per cent], the ischial tuberosities [19 per cent] and the buttocks [81 per cent]. Stages I, II, III and IV accounted for 23.8 per cent, 52.4 per cent, 14.3 per cent and 57.1 per cent respectively. The risk factors identified were advanced age [71.4 per cent], prolonged immobility [85.7 per cent], diabetic neuropathy [19 per cent], hemiplegia [38.1 per cent], paraplegia [14.3 per cent], malnutrition [85.7 per cent], dehydration [71.4 per cent], urinary/faecal incontinence [81 per cent] and underlying vascular conditions [57.1