Study: Black Nursing Home Patients may be More at Risk for Pressure Sores Than White Patients

By Nursing Home Law Center

A recent study from the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) found that black nursing home patients might be more at risk for developing pressure sores than white patients. Pressure sores, also called decubitus ulcers, are open wounds that could become deadly if left untreated.

The study, which analyzed data from 2.1 million U.S. nursing home patients from 2003-2008, found that blacks consistently had higher rates of bed sores than whites. The highest rates of bed sores occurred in nursing homes with the highest percentage of black residents. The lowest rates occurred in nursing homes with mainly white patients, according to the study.

Researchers also found that both black and white residents were more at risk for developing bed sores when nursing homes had mainly black residents.

Yui Li, one of five authors of the study, said that nursing homes with higher concentrations of black residents tend to suffer from chronic staffing issues.

The authors of the study conceded that more research needs to be done on the issue, since differences in mattresses and disposable briefs can also affect bed sore rates.

Related Information

• Is it true that minorities have a higher rate of bed sores compared with the general population?
• Hispanic nursing home patients are more likely to suffer from pressure ulcers

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