Table I.
Comparison of patients with nonpurpuric and purpuric pressure injuries
| Characteristic | Patients with nonpurpuric pressure injury∗ (n = 61) | Patients with purpuric pressure injury∗ (n = 27) | Total patients with pressure injury (n = 84) | P value† |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lesion evaluation | ||||
| Day of injury onset since admission (mean ± SD) | 11.2 ± 8.0 | 14.3 ± 10.0 | 12.0 ± 9.0 | .25 |
| Dermatology consultation obtained | 4 (6.6%) | 7 (25.9%) | 10 (11.9%) | .0070 |
| Photographs obtained | 40 (65.6%) | 25 (92.6%) | 62 (73.8%) | .0075 |
| Demographics | ||||
| Age in years (mean ± SD) | 60.9 ± 15.6 | 63.6 ± 14.8 | 61.9 ± 15.3 | .49 |
| Sex | ||||
| Male | 45 (73.7%) | 21 (77.8%) | 61 (73.5%) | .54 |
| Female | 16 (26.2%) | 6 (22.2%) | 22 (26.5%) | |
| Patient past medical history | ||||
| BMI (mean ± SD) | 31.8 ± 7.9 | 33.6 ± 9.6 | 32.1 ± 8.3 | .25 |
| Hypertension | 25 (40.9%) | 15 (55.6%) | 38 (45.9%) | .21 |
| Diabetes | 25 (40.9%) | 14 (51.9%) | 36 (43.4%) | .28 |
| Chronic heart disease | 5 (8.2%) | 1 (3.7%) | 6 (7.2%) | .39 |
| Chronic lung disease | 7 (11.5%) | 6 (22.2%) | 12 (14.5%) | .16 |
| Stroke/cerebrovascular accident | 3 (4.9%) | 2 (7.4%) | 5 (6.0%) | .71 |
| Smoking/cigarette use | 24 (39.3%) | 15 (55.6%) | 36 (42.9%) | .16 |
| Hospitalization | ||||
| Length of stay in days (mean ± SD) | 36.5 ± 20.4 | 42.3 ± 25.1 | 37.3 ± 21.9 | .15 |
| Intensive care unit admission | 52 (85.2%) | 24 (88.9%) | 71 (85.6%) | .55 |
| Death | 13 (21.0%) | 4 (14.8%) | 17 (20.5%) | .37 |
| Treatment course | ||||
| Endotracheal intubation | 50 (81.9%) | 23 (85.2%) | 68 (81.9%) | .59 |
| Orogastric/nasogastric intubation | 48 (78.6%) | 21 (77.8%) | 64 (77.1%) | .92 |
| Urinary catheterization | 52 (85.2%) | 24 (88.9%) | 71 (85.5%) | .55 |
| Rectal intubation | 49 (80.3%) | 22 (81.5%) | 66 (79.5%) | .76 |
| Parenteral nutrition | 11 (18.0%) | 3 (11.1%) | 12 (14.5%) | .55 |
| Clinical course | ||||
| Cerebrovascular accident | - | 1 (3.7%) | 1 (1.2%) | - |
| Deep vein thrombosis | 5 (8.2%) | 1 (3.7%) | 6 (7.2%) | .39 |
| Pulmonary embolism | 5 (8.2%) | 3 (11.1%) | 8 (9.6%) | .76 |
| Intracranial hemorrhage | 2 (3.3%) | - | 2 (2.4%) | - |
| On therapeutic anticoagulation at onset of first injury | 12 (19.7%) | 8 (29.6%) | 18 (21.4%) | .26 |
BMI, Body mass index; SD, standard deviation.
∗
4 patients had multiple pressure injuries of which some had purpuric features and others had only nonpurpuric features. Values for these patients are tabulated in both columns.
†
Statistical testing is performed comparing patients having pressure injuries with purpuric features to patients having pressure injuries none of which had purpuric features.