Incidence of pressure injury in an oncological intensive care unit

ABSTRACT Objective: to investigate the incidence of pressure injury in cancer patients of an intensive care unit. Method: A longitudinal study with 105 patients admitted to an oncological intensive care unit. The incidence rate was calculated as the number of events per 100 patient-days. Cumulative incidence was calculated both globally and according to selected characteristics, and submitted to hypothesis tests. Results: incidence rate per 100 patient-days was 1.32, and global cumulative incidence was 29.5%. A higher incidence was observed in patients with chronic diseases who had at least one episode of diarrhea, received enteral nutrition, and took vasoactive or sedative drugs for a prolonged period of time. Regarding type of tumour and antineoplastic treatments, no differences in incidence were observed. Conclusion: A high cumulative global incidence of pressure lesion was reported in cancer patients admitted to the intensive care unit, although tumour characteristics and antineoplastic treatments did not affect incidence.