Hospital Patients are More Likely to Develop Decubitus Ulcers Today Than They Were 10 Years ago

By Nursing Home Law Center

The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality released a report on hospital-acquired decubitus ulcers that has conclusively determined that hospital patients today are more likely to develop a decubitus ulcer during their admission than their counterparts 10 years ago. In fact, the rate of decubitus ulcers (pressure ulcers, pressure sores or bed sores) acquired during a hospitalization has increased by more than 80% from 1993 to 2006!

In addition to higher overall rate of decubitus ulcers, the study also revealed the following information regarding the development of hospital-acquired decubitus ulcers:

• In 2006, there were 503,300 hospital patients were admitted with a primary diagnosis of ‘decubitus ulcer’ — this marks an increase of approximately 80% since 1993.

• The cost of treating decubitus ulcers at hospitals was approximately $11 billion annually.

• The overwhelming majority of cases (>90%) involving decubitus ulcer care involved patients who were admitted for unrelated medical care.

• Patients discharged from a hospital following treatment for a decubitus ulcer generally fared worse than other types of patients with a lower survival rate within the first year of hospital discharge.

• Patients who developed decubitus ulcers during a hospitalization tended to be older. 72% of decubitus ulcer patients over 65-years old had a secondary diagnosis of decubitus ulcers and 56.5% of elderly hospital patients who received decubitus ulcer treatment was due to a primary diagnosis of decubitus ulcers that had developed during their hospital stay.

• Medicare was the largest payer of for care of patients with decubitus ulcers– paying approximately 75% of all charges related to decubitus ulcer care.

• Younger patients who received treatment for decubitus ulcers tended to be paralyzed or have spinal cord injuries.

Most cases involving the development of decubitus ulcers during a hospitalization result from the hospitals failure to monitor at-risk patients and implement interventions on a timely basis. Consequently, patients who develop a decubitus ulcer during a hospital admission may be entitled to pursue against the hospital based on medical negligence.

Related Information

• Where can I learn more about the laws applicable to people who develop bed sores in nursing homes or hospitals?
• What legal action can be taken if a bed sore developed during an admission to a long-term care facility?
• Why are physically disabled patients at risk for developing bed sores?

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