As of 2012, what are the key predictive risk factors for pressure ulcers? Developing French guidelines for clinical practice.

Introduction: An evaluation of predictive risk factors for pressure ulcers is essential in development of a preventive strategy on admission to hospitals and/or nursing homes.

Objectives: Identification of the predictive factors for pressure ulcers as of 2012.

Method: Systematic review of the literature querying the databases PASCAL Biomed, Cochrane Library and PubMed from 2000 through 2010.

Results: Immobility should be considered as a predictive risk factor for pressure ulcers (grade B). Undernutrition/malnutrition may also be a predictive risk factor for pressure ulcers (grade C).

Discussion: Even if the level of evidence is low, once these risk factors have been detected, management is essential. Sensitizing and mobilizing health care teams requires training in ways of tracking and screening. According to the experts, risk scales should be used. As decision aids, they should always be balanced and complemented by the clinical judgment of the treatment team.

Conclusion: According to experts, it is important to know and predictively evaluate risk of pressure ulcers at the time of hospital admission. The predictive risk factors found in this study are identical to those highlighted at the 2001 consensus conference of which was PERSE was the promoter.