Efficacy of a motorized air support to prevent pressure ulcers in at-risk patients hospitalized in rehabilitation departments: incidence and prevalence studies.

Background: The main objective was to assess the reduction of the pressure ulcers prevalence which could be obtained if Ascalis Optimo® mattresses were made available ad libitum in rehabilitation services (RS) by comparison to prevalence as observed in the national PERSE study (historical control) in similar departments using a variety of prevention aids.

Methods: This cross-sectional prevalence study was combined with a prospective study of the incidence of pressure ulcer occurrence in the high-risk target population whose beds were systematically equipped with the studied support.

Results: The prevalence study shows that 12 of the 369 patients presented pressure ulcers which occurred when Ascalis Optimo® was used.