COMPARISON OF INCIDENCE AND GRADE OF PRESSURE ULCER IN SMOKERS AND NON-SMOKERS ADMITTED TO INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

Pressure ulcer is a serious problem in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. It is associated with major complications such as prolonged length of stay and delayed recovery. The aim of this study was to compare the incidence and grade of pressure ulcers in smokers and non-smokers admitted to the intensive care unit.

This study is an analytical cross-sectional study in which 120 patients in two groups (smokers (60) and non-smokers (60)) were selected by convenience sampling. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, information sheet based on the division of the National Pressure Ulcer Advisory Panel (NPUAP), and Braden's grading criteria. Data were analyzed by SPSS v.24 software.

The results showed that incidence of pressure ulcers in the smoker group was 46.13 ± 11.01 and in the non-smokers group was 39.2 ± 8.23 and there was a significant difference between the incidence of pressure ulcers in two groups (p≤.0/05). Also, comparing the grade of pressure ulcer, the mean and standard deviation of the smoker group was 23.32 ± 5.92 and the non-smokers group was 14.22 ± 1.21. 11/7% of patients in the smoking group had grades of four pressure ulcers, but in the non-smoking group, none of the patients had grades of four pressure ulcers. The t-test showed a significant difference between the grades of pressure ulcers in two groups (p≤0/05).

The results of this study showed the effect of smoking on increasing incidence and grade of pressure ulcers in patients admitted to the intensive care unit. Therefore, it is necessary for the staff of the intensive care units to pay special attention to risk factors and to identify and monitor the hospitalized patients.