Factors associated with the development of pressure ulcers after spinal cord injury

Study design: Cross-sectional observational study. Objectives: To examine variables associated with the development of pressure ulcers in subjects with spinal cord injury (SCI). Setting: SCI patients under coverage of the State Welfare Organization of Iran. Methods: Mobile rehabilitation teams gathered data from 20 of the 30 provinces in Iran. There were 8104 SCI patients registered in the database; 7489 patients were included in the analysis. The prevalence of PU in patients aged 10; therefore, we used different logistic models for these groups. Likewise, separate models were created for patients who had experienced SCI during the past year versus patients injured >1 year before the evaluation. Results: PU was present in 34.6% of the patients. The variables associated with PU in patients aged 11 years, male gender, the time passed since SCI, lower level of education, lack of an intimate partner, quadriplegia and older age presented a significant association with PU. Patients for whom 1 year had passed since SCI, male gender, quadriplegia, older age, lower level of education and lack of an intimate partner were associated with PU. Conclusion: SCI patients are a heterogeneous group and the risk factors associated with PU may vary in specific subgroups. Different models are needed to describe PU in SCI patients depending on the patient’s age and the time passed since SCI.