Biomarkers and clinical features associated with pressure injury among geriatric patients

Purpose: The study aims to identify biomarkers and clinical features associated with pressure injury (PI) among geriatric patients.
Methods: A cross-sectional study including 191 patients aged ≥60 years. Patients were classified into those with and without PI. Assessing the risk of PI was performed on admission by applying the Braden scale (BS) for predicting pressure sore risk. Clinical history, baseline hematology, and biochemistry results were obtained. C-reactive protein to albumin ratio (CAR) and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) were calculated. Statistical analyses were performed.
Results: 43 (22.5%) patients had PI. PI was significantly associated with higher CCI, total leukocyte count, and CAR, besides lower BS scores, serum albumin, and total proteins. Significant comorbidities were diabetes mellitus, stroke/transient ischemic attack, dementia, incontinence, and chronic kidney disease. The optimal cut-offs for PI occurrence were ≤14, ≤3.1 g/dl and >1.27 for BS, albumin, and CAR, respectively.